Includes bibliographical references

This volume focuses on the use of anisotropy as a tool to design, organize and provide special functions to nanoparticles of different compositions. Anisotropy at the nanoscale is a critical factor in the mechanical, optical, electronic, and magnetic properties of nanoparticles. Indeed, many unusual properties of colloidal materials arise due to heterogeneous spatial confinement of electrons, plasmons and electric fields around the particles. As the field of nanoparticle synthesis and application matures, there is an increasing need for the design of novel and more complex nanosized objects. In particular, the incorporation of multiple functionalities, the directionality of such functions, and the incorporation of lower or higher dimensional order have great relevance and interest for biomolecule detection, diagnosis and therapeutic medical applications.