Nanotechnology opens great opportunities for achieving optimization of applications in many diverse fields, such as catalysis, separation processes, fluid transport, controlled delivery of drugs, containment of gases and mitigation of contaminants. To achieve this, nanostructured materials should be tailored, that is to say that synthesis strategies should lead to compounds which properties match requirement for each kind of application. Among the variety of manufacturing processes described in literature, chemical synthesis is the most promising alternative for enabling passage from laboratory to industry. This is why this option is currently one of the most active lines of work in nanoscience [1-3]. Within this framework, we carried on a research program focused on the preparation of metallic and non-metallic nanoparticles and their characterization by means of techniques such as electron microscopy, light scattering and Raman spectroscopy. In a further phase of work, these nanomaterials will be incorporated into several formulations to serve practical purposes, such as soil stabilizers, curing accelerators, special coatings, and the like. This article deals with results of the following specific activities: synthesis and characterization of colloidal nanomagnetite and core-shell nanoparticles of magnetite coated with a silica layer; doping of silica nanoparticles with magnetite, silver and gold by a layer by layer (LBL)) technique; inclusion of nanosilver into hydrogels and characterization of activity by means of Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS); synthesis and characterization of magnetite nanoparticles and colloidal silver by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) to asses size and Z potential, as well as by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).