This volume contains studies on the molecular organisation on interfaces and nanoparticles. The contributions were presented during the 40. General Meeting (Hauptversammlung) of the Kolloid-Gesellschaft in Potsdam in September 2001 and are related to the subject "Colloids and Life Science". Therefore, a diversity of papers were collected covering a large field: synthesis of polymer colloids, biominerals and nanoparticles, investigations on monolayers, lyotropic mesophases, polymeric surfactants, micellar transitions, supramolecular compounds for modifying polymers, solid particles for emulsion stabilisers, and adsorbents for odour control.

Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science is a supplement to the journal "Colloid and Polymer Science" publishing topic-related volumes.

Preparation strategies for phosphate-based mineral biomaterials.- Effects of surfactants on the crystallization and polymorphism of lipid nanoparticles.- Solid particles as emulsion stabilisers.- Hot moulding of zirconia micro parts.- Characterization of adsorbents for odour reduction.- Structure and dynamics of spherical polymer brushes in a homopolymer matrix.- The osmotic coefficient of spherical polyelectrolyte brushes in aqueous salt-free solution.- Surface modification of polymers using supramolecular compounds.- Field-flow fractionation on poly(vinyl formamide), other polymers and colloids.- Nanostructuring of liquids at solid-liquid interfaces.- A supramolecular construction kit based on surface-layer proteins.- Molecular recognition at the air-water interface and Langmuir-Blodgett films.- Temperature-dependent domain growth in 9-hydroxypalmitic acid monolayers.- Thermodynamics of two-dimensional cluster formation at the water/air interface. A quantum chemical approach.- The role of buoyancy in the development of surface tension auto-oscillations.- Dynamics in polymer layers investigated by NMR techniques.- A novel way for the alignment of lyotropic hexagonal and L? phases in magnetic fields.- Shear flow of lamellar polymer surfactants.- Solvatochromism in organized assemblies: effects of the sphere-to-rod micellar transition.