Electrostatics and nanoparticles: Whatʹs the same, whatʹs different?

This paper provides a brief review of the status of research in the field of solid nanoparticles. The field may be divided into the broad categories of particle creation, utilization, and manipulation. Several examples are provided for gas- and liquid-phase production of particles, as well as the many uses found for them in manufacturing, microelectronics, and medicine. Electrostatic self-assembly, a phenomenon that occurs in liquids, is discussed as a method for producing uniquely tailored structures. The use of nanoparticles as vehicles for the transdermal administration of medicaments and vaccines is also presented as a topic of ongoing research.