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Residue of sulfamethazine (SMZ), a typical short-acting drug to prevent bacterial infections, in food is a threat to human health. A ternary heterogeneous metal-organic framework hybrid (Zn/Fe-MOF@PDANSs) of Zn-TCPP-MOF, MIL-101 (Fe) and polydopamine nanoparticles (PDANSs) was proposed to establish an aptasensor for the sensitive and selective detection of SMZ. In this sensor, Zn-TCPP-MOF and FAM emitted fluorescence at 609 nm and 523 nm, respectively, and the fluorescence of FAM-ssDNA could be quenched when it was adsorbed on the surface of MOF hybrid. In the presence of SMZ, the fluorescence of FAM-ssDNA recovered due to the dropping from MOF hybrid, while the fluorescence of MOF hybrid remained. With this strategy, a wide concentration range and high sensitivity of SMZ were detection. And the ternary Zn/Fe-MOF@PDANSs sensor exhibited more excellent performance than binary Zn/Fe-MOF aptasensor. In addition, the sensor showed pleasurable selectivity, and was utilized for SMZ determination in authentic chicken and pork samples, implying the fascinating potential in practical application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), as a means of locally and rapidly inducing adipocyte death via light illumination, in combination with adipose browning induction, a more gradual and widespread effect that could transform white adipose tissue into thermogenic adipose tissue, manifests a promising approach to combat obesity. Herein, adipose-targeting ultra-small hybrid nanoparticles (Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs) composed of an adipose-targeting peptide, Fe 3+ , a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX), and a browning agent (baicalin) are introduced. Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs have been designed to simultaneously enhance the photodynamic effect and induce browning. After intravenous injection in obese mice, the hybrid nanoparticles can specifically accumulate in white adipose tissues, especially those rich in blood supply, and drive adipose reduction owing to the synergy of the PDT effect and baicalin browning induction. Overall, Pep-PPIX-Baic NPs exhibited superior anti-obesity potential through PDT synergistic with adipose browning induction. The designed multifunctional adipose-targeting hybrid nanoparticles present a prospective nanoplatform for obesity treatment., (© 2023 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Biofilms pose significant threats to public health by causing persistent clinical infections. The development of innovative antibacterial approaches for eliminating biofilms is an urgent necessity. In this study, we developed amphiphilic Janus nanoparticles (JNPs), loaded with hydrophobic chlorin e6 (Ce6) and hydrophilic S -nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), denoted as Ce6-PDA/CaP-GSNO, with the aim to effectively eradicate biofilms and combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections through nitric oxide (NO) synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT). Ce6-PDA/CaP-GSNO demonstrated remarkable biofilm penetration ability, efficiently reaching the acidic inner layers, which triggered the rapid release of GSNO, resulting in the generation of an abundant supply of NO. NO not only exhibited potent bactericidal activity but also effectively lowered the GSH level of the biofilm, leading to enhanced efficacy of Ce6. Additionally, the interaction between NO and reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulted in the generation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), further enhancing PDT efficacy both in vitro and in vivo . In summary, Ce6-PDA/CaP-GSNO demonstrated remarkable biofilm penetration capacity and effective reduction of the GSH level in the biofilms, leading to enhanced PDT efficacy at low photosensitizer doses and laser intensities, thereby minimizing adverse effects on normal tissues. These findings highlight the promising potential of our approach for combating biofilm-related infections.

Nanoscale structures have been developed to serve various functions in cancer therapy, encompassing areas such as diagnosis, biomedical visualization, tissue regeneration, and drug delivery. Based on biocompatible chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) and gold nanorods (GNRs), we designed the drug delivery systems (GNR@polyacrylic acid-Mn@COS Janus nanoparticles (JNPs)), which achieved paclitaxel (PTX) loaded on the side of GNRs, and the PAA-Mn domain served as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. This system was found to be effectively delivered to tumor sites through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and the active target of the COS. The uniform JNPs selectively targeted cancer cells instead of normal cells through interacting with the COS on the surface of tumor cells, and the pH/NIR-responsive drug release behavior further enhanced their therapeutic effects. The in vivo effects of JNPs against tumors were evaluated using subcutaneous and orthotopic lung metastasis models, yielding promising outcomes for both tumor diagnosis and cancer treatment. In conclusion, the obtained JNPs hold great promise as a theranostic nanoplatform with synergistic chemotherapeutic and photothermal effects.

Nanoparticles (NPs) show great advantages in cancer treatment by enabling controlled and targeted delivery of payloads to tumor sites through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. In this study, highly effective pH-responsive and biodegradable calcium orthophosphate@liposomes (CaP@Lip) NPs with a diameter of 110 ± 20 nm were designed and fabricated. CaP@Lip NPs loaded with hydrophobic paclitaxel and hydrophilic doxorubicin hydrochloride achieved excellent drug loading efficiencies of 70 and 90%, respectively. Under physiological conditions, the obtained NPs are negatively charged. However, they switched to positively charged when exposed to weak acidic environments by which internalization can be promoted. Furthermore, the CaP@Lip NPs exhibit an obvious structural collapse under acid conditions (pH 5.5), which confirms their excellent biodegradability. The "proton expansion" effect in endosomes and the pH-responsiveness of the NPs facilitate the release of encapsulated drugs from individual channels. The effectiveness and safety of the drug delivery systems were demonstrated through in vitro and in vivo experiments, with a 76% inhibition of tumor growth. These findings highlight the high targeting ability of the drug-loaded NPs to tumor sites through the EPR effect, effectively suppressing tumor growth and metastasis. By combining CaP NPs and liposomes, this study not only resolves the toxicity of CaP but also enhances the stability of liposomes. The CaP@Lip NPs developed in this study have significant implications for biomedical applications and inspire the development of intelligent and smart drug nanocarriers and release systems for clinical use.

Distant metastasis of malignant tumors is considered to be the main culprit for the failure of current antitumor treatments. Conventional single treatments often exhibit limited efficacy in inhibiting tumor metastasis. Therefore, there is a growing interest in developing collaborative antitumor strategies based on photothermal therapy (PTT) and free-radical-generated photodynamic therapy (PDT), especially utilizing oxygen-independent nanoplatforms, to address this challenge. Such antitumor strategies can enhance the therapeutic outcomes by ensuring the cytotoxicity of free radicals even in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment, thereby improving the effective suppression of primary tumors. Additionally, these approaches can stimulate the production of tumor-associated antigens and amplify the immunogenic cell death (ICD) effects, potentially feasible for enhancing the therapeutic outcomes of immunotherapy. Herein, we fabricated a functional nanosystem that co-loads IR780 and 2,2'-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane]-dihydrochloride (AIPH) to realize PTT-triggered thermodynamic combination therapy via the oxygen-independent pathway for the elimination of primary tumors. Furthermore, the nanocomposites were surface-decorated with a predesigned complex peptide (PLGVRGC-anti-PD-L1 peptide, MMP-sensitive), which facilitated the immunotherapy targeting distant tumors. Through the specific recognition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), the sensitive segment on the obtained aNC@IR780A was cleaved. As a result, the freed anti-PD-L1 peptide effectively blocked immune checkpoints, leading to the infiltration and activation of T cells (CTLs). This nanosystem was proven to be effective at inhibiting both primary tumors and distant tumors, providing a promising combination strategy for tumor PTT/TDT/immunotherapy.

Numerous research studies have proved that lactate is pivotal in tumor proliferation, metastasis, and recurrence, so disrupting the lactate metabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has become one of the effective methods of tumor treatment. Herein, we have developed a versatile nanoparticle (HCLP NP) based on hollow Prussian blue (HPB) as the functional carrier for loading α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC), and lactate oxidase (LOD), followed by coating with polyethylene glycol to enhance chemodynamic therapy (CDT) and the antimetastatic effect of cancer. The obtained HCLP NPs would be degraded under endogenous mild acidity within the TME to simultaneously release CHC and LOD. CHC inhibits the expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 in tumors, thereby interrupting the uptake of lactate from the outside and alleviating tumor hypoxia by reducing lactate aerobic respiration. Meanwhile, the released LOD can catalyze the decomposition of lactate into hydrogen peroxide, further enhancing the efficacy of CDT by generating plenty of toxic reactive oxygen species through the Fenton reaction. The strong absorbance at about 800 nm endows HCLP NPs with excellent photoacoustic imaging properties. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that HCLP NPs can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis, providing a new possibility for tumor therapy.

Bacterial effector proteins are virulence factors that are secreted and mediate orthogonal post-translational modifications of proteins that are not found naturally in mammalian systems. They hold great promise for developing biotherapeutics by regulating malignant cell signaling in a specific and targeted manner. However, delivering bacterial effectors into disease cells poses a significant challenge to their therapeutic potential. In this study, we report on the design of a combinatorial library of bioreducible lipid nanoparticles containing disulfide bonds for highly efficient bacterial effector delivery and potential cancer therapy. A leading lipid, PPPDA-O16B, identified from the library, can encapsulate and deliver DNA plasmids into cells. The gene cargo is released in response to the reductive cellular environment that is upregulated in cancer cells, leading to enhanced gene delivery and protein expression efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PPPDA-O16B can deliver the bacterial effector protein, DUF5, to degrade mutant RAS and inactivate downstream MAPK signaling cascades to suppress cancer cell growth in vitro and in tumor-bearing mouse xenografts. This strategy of delivering bacterial effectors using biodegradable lipid nanoparticles can be expanded for cancer cell signaling regulation and antitumor studies.

The emergence of X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) holds tremendous promise for clinical deep-penetrating cancer therapy. However, the clinical application of X-PDT in cancer treatment is still limited due to the hypoxic property of cancerous tissue, the inherent antioxidant system of tumor cells, and the difficulty in matching the absorption spectra of photosensitizers. Herein, a versatile core-shell radiosensitizer (SCNPs@DMSN@CeO x -PEG, denoted as SSCP) was elaborately designed and constructed to enhance X-PDT by coating tunable mesoporous silica on nanoscintillators, followed by embedding the cerium oxide nanoparticles in situ . The obtained SSCP radiosensitizer demonstrated a distinct blue-shift in the ultraviolet light region, so that it could perfectly absorb the ultraviolet light converted by the SCNPs core, resulting in the formation of photoinduced electron-hole (e - -h + ) pairs separation to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the cerium oxide exhibits high glutathione consumption to heighten ROS accumulation, and catalase-like activity to alleviate the hypoxia, which further enhances the efficiency of radiotherapy. Benefiting from the abundant Lu and Ce elements, the computed tomography imaging performance of SSCP is about 3.79-fold that of the clinical contrast agent (iohexol), which has great potential in both preclinical imaging and clinical translation.

Free radicals, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), play a critical role in determining cell's fate. When the level of free radicals is increased to a fatal value, it causes cancer cells to undergo senescence or cell death. Strategies that target this mechanism offer promising therapies against cancer. However, efficient and sustainable systems that generate free radicals, especially oxygen-independent systems, remain deficient. Herein, functionalized PLGA-based nanocomposites that efficiently co-deliver magnetic nanoparticles and 2,2'-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane]-dihydrochloride (AIPH) were fabricated to achieve photothermal-induced thermodynamic therapy combined with macrophage polarization strategies; this therapy targets hypoxic tumors through the generation of an oxygen-independent free-radical cascade. These hybrid NPs can accumulate in the tumor microenvironment, and the encapsulated MNPs not only serve as contrast agents for enhanced magnetic resonance imaging but also exhibit the expected photothermal conversion and trigger the decomposition of AIPH to generate free radicals, thus causing cancer cell death. More importantly, the cell debris from apoptotic or necrotic cancer cells carries nondegraded MNPs, which can be endocytosed by recruited TAMs. MNPs can further induce TAMs to polarize to the M1 subtype to subsequently generate ROS. This study provides an alternative method for the generation of an oxygen-independent free-radical cascade for tumor co-therapy guided by magnetic resonance imaging PTT/TDT.

Recently, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) severely threatened the public health, especially when the biofilms developed. Although the biofilm eradication capability of nanoparticles (NPs) has been proposed and confirmed, efficient biofilm penetration and retention are still a big challenge. To solve this problem, a multifunctional electrostatic complexation (denoted as TDZ-G4@CA) was constructed for biofilm combination therapy. TDZ-G4@CA was composed of a TDZ-grafted amino-ended poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (TDZ-PAMAM) as the inner core and cis -aconitic anhydride-modified d-tyrosine (CA-Tyr) wrapped outside via electrostatic interaction. In our design, TDZ-G4@CA could simultaneously reduce the particle size and reverse the surface charge under an acidic microenvironment, which was designed for efficient biofilm penetration and retention. Meanwhile, the on-demand two-step sequential delivery of biofilm dispersal and antibacterial agents was also obtained. The acid responsiveness of TDZ-G4@CA triggered the immediate release of d-Tyr to damage the matrix of the biofilm. Subsequently, TDZ-G4 could penetrate over the depth of the biofilm and bind tightly to MRSA, which could enhance the permeability of the bacterial membrane for TDZ internalization. Additionally, TDZ exhibited a sustained-release pattern as a response to lipase to maintain an effective bactericidal concentration for a long time. As expected, in vitro experiments demonstrated that surface charge/particle size-adaptive TDZ-G4@CA with a sequential delivery strategy exhibited intensive infiltration in the biofilm matrix and excellent biofilm eradication capabilities. Afterward, in vivo experimental results also confirmed the prolonged circulation time and comprehensive therapeutic efficacy of TDZ-G4@CA against MRSA-induced subcutaneous abscess without any systemic side effects. Based on the comprehensive evaluation of the therapeutic outcome, the electrostatic complexation (TDZ-G4@CA) can serve as a promising strategy for enhanced antibiotic therapy for combating biofilm-associated infections.

The delivery of protein into mammalian cells enables the dissection and manipulation of biological processes; however, this potency is challenged by the lack of an efficient protein delivery tool and a means to monitor its intracellular trafficking. Herein, we report that the hierarchical self-assembly of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-featured metal-organic cages (MOCs) and β-cyclodextrin-conjugated polyethylenimine can generate fluorescent supramolecular nanoparticles (FSNPs) to deliver protein into neural cells, a cell line that is hard to transfect using conventional strategy. Further, the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) of TPE enabled the fluorescent monitoring of cytosolic protein release. It is found that FSNPs can deliver and release protein into cytosol for subcellular targeting as fast as 18 h post-delivery. Moreover, the delivery of molecular chaperone DJ-1 using FSNPs activates MAPK/ERK signaling of neural cells to protect cells from oxidative stress., (© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Biofilm-related bacterial infections are extremely resistant to antibiotics, mainly due to the impermeability of the intensive matrices, which allow the bacteria to survive antibiotic treatment. Herein, step-by-step dual stimuli-responsive azithromycin-loaded nanoparticles (CM/AZM@Tyr) was constructed for efficient biofilm eradication. CM/AZM@Tyr was prepared by the self-assembly of poly(ε-caprolactone)-polyethylene glycol-polyethylenimine (PCL-PEG-PEI) into cationic micelles and simultaneously encapsulated AZM into the hydrophobic core, which is further bound with cis -aconityl-D-tyrosine (CA-Tyr) through electrostatic interaction. Upon initial penetration, CM/AZM@Tyr could show step-by-step dual-response to the microenvironment of biofilms. Firstly, the CA-Tyr shell rapidly responded to the acidic microenvironment and released D-Tyr to disassemble the biofilm mass. Then, the exposed cationic CM/AZM micelles could bind firmly to the negatively-charged bacteria cell membrane. With the enzymolysis of the PCL core, the rapidly releasing AZM could kill the bacteria over the depth of biofilms. Massive accumulation was observed in the infected lungs of biofilms-associated lung infection mice after the i.v. injection of CM/Cy5.5@Tyr under the 3D mode of the in vivo Imaging System. Reduced bacterial burden and alleviated fibrosis in the infected lungs were also obtained after treatment with CM/AZM@Tyr mainly due to its intensive penetration in the biofilm and the orderly release of the biofilm dispersant and antimicrobial agents. In summary, this research developed an effective strategy for the treatment of blood-accessible biofilm-induced infections.

Polyamine detection and depletion have been extensively investigated for cancer prevention and treatment. However, the therapeutic efficacy is far from satisfactory, mainly due to a polyamine compensation mechanism from the systemic circulation in the tumor environment. Herein, we explore a new solution for improving polyamine detection as well as a possible consumption therapy based on a new photosensitizer that can efficiently consume polyamines via an irreversible chemical reaction. The new photosensitizer is pyrrolopyrroleaza-BODIPY pyridinium salt (PPAB-PyS) nanoparticles that can react with the over-expressed polyamine in cancer cells and produce two photosensitizers with enhanced phototoxicity on cancer destruction. Meanwhile, PPAB-PyS nanoparticles provide a simultaneous ratiometric fluorescence imaging of intracellular polyamine. This combination polyamine consumption with a chemical reaction provides a new modality to enable polyamine detection along with photodynamic therapy as well as a putative depletion of polyamines for cancer treatment and prevention.

The development of near-infrared (NIR) laser triggered phototheranostics for multimodal imaging-guided combination therapy is highly desirable. However, multiple laser sources, as well as inadequate therapeutic efficacy, impede the application of phototheranostics. Here, we develop an all-in-one theranostic nanoagent PEGylated DCNP@DMSN-MoO x NPs (DCDMs) with a flower-like structure fabricated by coating uniformly sized down-conversion nanoparticles (DCNPs) with dendritic mesoporous silica (DMSN) and then loading the ultrasmall oxygen-deficient molybdenum oxide nanoparticles (MoO x NPs) inside through an electrostatic interaction. Owing to the doping of Nd ions, when excited by an 808 nm laser, DCNPs emit bright NIR-II emissions (1060 and 1300 nm), which have characteristic high spatial resolution and deep tissue penetration. In terms of treatment, MoO x NPs could be specifically activated by excessive hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in the tumor microenvironment, thus generating 1 O 2 via the Russell mechanism. In addition, the excessive glutathione (GSH) in the tumor cells could be depleted through the Mo-mediated redox reaction, thus effectively decreasing the antioxidant capacity of tumor cells. Importantly, the excellent photothermal properties (photothermal conversion efficiency of 51.5% under an 808 nm laser) synergistically accelerate the generation of 1 O 2 . This cyclic redox reaction of molybdenum indeed ensured the high efficacy of tumor-specific therapy, leaving the normal tissues unharmed. MoO x NPs could also efficiently catalyze tumor endogenous H 2 O 2 into a considerable amount of O 2 in an acidic tumor microenvironment, thus relieving hypoxia in tumor tissues. Moreover, the computed tomography (CT) and T 1 -weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effect from Gd 3+ and Y 3+ ions make DCNPs act as a hybrid imaging agent, allowing comprehensive analysis of tumor lesions. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments validate that such an "all-in-one" nanoplatform possesses desirable anticancer abilities under single laser source irradiation, benefiting from the NIR-II fluorescence/CT/MR multimodal imaging-guided photothermal/chemodynamic synergistic therapy. Overall, our strategy paves the way to explore other noninvasive cancer phototheranostics.

Hypoxia in tumor cells is regarded as the most crucial cause of clinical drug resistance and radio-resistance; thus, relieving hypoxia of tumor cells is the key to enhancing the efficacy of anticancer therapy. As a gas signal molecule of vasodilatation factors, nitric oxide (NO) can relieve the hypoxia status of tumor cells, thereby, enhancing the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiotherapy. However, considering complications of vascular activity, the level of NO required for radiotherapy sensitization cannot be obtained in vivo. In view of this, we design and fabricate a multifunctional bismuth-based nanotheranostic agent, which is functionalized with S-nitrosothiol and termed Bi-SNO NPs. X-rays break down the S-N bond and simultaneously trigger large amount of NO-releasing (over 60 μM). Moreover, the as-prepared Bi-SNO NPs not only possess the capability of absorbing and converting 808 nm NIR photons into heat for photothermal therapy, but also have the ability to increase X-ray absorption and CT imaging sensitivity. In addition, the collaborative radio-, photothermal-, and gas-therapy of Bi-SNO in vivo was further investigated and remarkable synergistic tumor inhibition was realized. Finally, no obvious toxicity of Bi-SNO NPs was observed in the treated mice within 14 days. Therefore, the Bi-SNO developed in this work is an effective nano-agent for cancer theranostics with well-controlled morphology and uniform size (36 nm), which could serve as a versatile CT imaging-guided combined radio-, photothermal- and gas-therapy nanocomposite with negligible side effects.

The development of a stimulus-responsive nanosystem provides an effective method for improving the accuracy and efficiency of chemotherapy. Meanwhile, traditional photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been substantially restricted by the low dosage of photosensitizer and limited penetration depth of the ultraviolet (UV) or visible light used for excitation. Here, we designed a smart multifunctional nanoplatform by coating core-shell composite mesoporous silica-encapsulated upconversion nanoparticles and chlorin e6 (Ce6) with degradable calcium phosphate, followed by the loading of doxorubicin (DOX). In our structure, the as-synthesized nanoplatform exhibits high responsiveness to a low pH value and degrades rapidly in the weakly acidic tumor microenvironment, allowing the quick release of loaded DOX in tumor sites. Interestingly, the loaded DOX, whose release depends on the pH value and positively correlates with the calcium-ion concentration, enables drug release to be monitored in real time. Combined with photosensitizer Ce6-induced PDT triggered by an 808 nm near-infrared light, synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy is achieved, thus leading to a highly efficient anticancer treatment in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, the inherent properties of rare earth ions (Gd 3+ , Yb 3+ , and Nd 3+ ) make the nanoplatform possess UCL, MRI, and CT trimode imaging capabilities, thus achieving a multiple imaging modality-guided synergistic therapy.

Near-infrared (NIR) light-induced imaging-guided cancer therapy has been studied extensively in recent years. Herein, we report a novel theranostic nanoplatform by modifying polyoxometalate (POM) nanoclusters onto mesoporous silica-coated upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs), followed by loading doxorubicin (DOX) in the mesopores and coating a folate-chitosan shell onto the surface. In this nanoplatform, the core-shell structured UCNPs (NaYF4:Yb,Er@NaYF4:Yb,Nd) showed special upconverting luminescence (UCL) when irradiated with high-penetration 808 nm NIR light, and the doped Yb and Nd ions endowed the sample with CT imaging properties, thus achieving a dual-mode imaging function. Moreover, the simultaneously generated heat mediated by the 808 nm NIR light may coordinate with the chemotherapy generated from the released DOX to realize an efficient synergistic therapy, verified by diverse in vitro and in vivo assays. The coated folate-chitosan shell can target the platform to tumor tissues when it was transported in the blood vessels and accumulated in tumor sites via the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). Due to the acidic and reductive microenvironment of the tumor, the DOX released quickly with the dissolved folate-chitosan shell, exhibiting obvious tumor microenvironment (TME) responsive properties. The smart imaging-guided therapeutic nanoplatform should be highly promising in TME responsive therapy.

Multimodal imaging-guided diagnosis and therapy has been highlighted in the area of theranostic nanomaterials. To provide more suitable theranostic candidates, Prussian blue (PB)/manganese dioxide (MnO 2 ) hybrid nanoparticles (PBMn) smaller than 50 nm are prepared by a one-pot method. MnO 2 , which is reduced from KMnO 4 , not only controls the particle size, the optical properties, and the transverse relaxation rate (r 2 ) of PB but also enhances the catalysis efficacy of PB to H 2 O 2 for oxygen generation. PBMn can serve as a photoacoustic imaging (PAI) and longitudinal relaxation (T 1 ) mode magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent (14 times and 1.8 times of the saline-treated group, respectively). Injection of PBMn can regulate the oxygen partial pressure of the tumor tissue from 2.1 ± 0.2 to 9.3 ± 0.4 kPa and rearrange the ratio of oxygenated hemoglobin and deoxygenate hemoglobin inside the tumor, which favor the enhancement of the diamagnetic T 2 -weighted imaging (T 2 WI) signal intensity (two times that of the saline-treated group). Furthermore, PBMn-mediated PTT can efficiently inhibit the growth of the MCF-7 tumor in vitro and in vivo. PBMn can serve as a PAI/T 1 /T 2 trimodal contrast agent and in imaging-guided PTT, as well as in the oxygen regulation of the exografted breast cancer.

Magnetic iron oxide modified pyropheophorbide-a fluorescence nanoparticles, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @APTES@PPa (FSAP), were designed as magnetically targeted photodynamic antineoplastic agents and prepared through continuous covalent chemical modification on the surface of Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles. The properties of the intermediates and the final product were comprehensively characterized by transmission electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry, zeta potential measurement, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. In this work, we demonstrated the in vitro photodynamic therapy (PDT) of FSAP against ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) cells, which indicated that FSAP could be taken up successfully and showed low dark toxicity without irradiation, but remarkable phototoxicity after irradiation. Meanwhile, FSAP had showed good biocompatibility and low dark toxicity against normal cells in the biological experiments on mouse normal fibroblast cell lines (L929 cells). In addition, in the photochemical process of FSAP mediated photodynamic therapy, the Type-II photo-oxygenation process (generated singlet oxygen) played an important role in the induction of cell damage.

A ternary synergistic photocatalyst H3PW12O40/Pt/UiO-66-NH2 was successfully fabricated for the first time through a simple solvothermal synthetic strategy. We found that the introduced solid acid of H3PW12O40 could provide bonded H+ to improve the oxidation power of Cr(VI), while the introduction of Pt would enhance the charge separation to provide abundant electrons, as a result showing a synergistic effect to facilitate the fast Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) under original pH conduction. Benefited from the aforementioned advantages, the as-prepared H3PW12O40/Pt/UiO-66-NH2 shows excellent photocatalytic performance toward toxic Cr(VI) reduction, where the Cr(VI) with a concentration of 10 mg L–1 could be totally reduced into its low toxic state of Cr(III) within one hour of catalytic reaction under neutral pH conditions. The innovative design shown in this work opens a new viewpoint in planning high performance semiconductors for environmental concerned applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The delivery of protein into mammalian cells enables the dissection and manipulation of biological processes; however, this potency is challenged by the lack of an efficient protein delivery tool and a means to monitor its intracellular trafficking. Herein, we report that the hierarchical self‐assembly of tetraphenylethylene (TPE)‐featured metal–organic cages (MOCs) and β‐cyclodextrin‐conjugated polyethylenimine can generate fluorescent supramolecular nanoparticles (FSNPs) to deliver protein into neural cells, a cell line that is hard to transfect using conventional strategy. Further, the aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) of TPE enabled the fluorescent monitoring of cytosolic protein release. It is found that FSNPs can deliver and release protein into cytosol for subcellular targeting as fast as 18 h post‐delivery. Moreover, the delivery of molecular chaperone DJ‐1 using FSNPs activates MAPK/ERK signaling of neural cells to protect cells from oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(1H,1H,7H-dodecafluoroheptyl methacrylate) (PEG- b -PDFMA) block copolymer was first synthesized by the reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. Then a novel facile approach was developed to fabricate oval cuboid TiO 2 particles with mesoporous structure by using the PEG- b -PDFMA block copolymer as a template and titanium tetrabutoxide (TBOT) as a precursor, followed by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process and calcination process. The results show that the PEG- b -PDFMA block copolymer can control the oriented assembly of nanoparticles and act as templates for the formation of a mesopore. It is found that the mass ratio of TBOT/PEG- b -PDFMA and water content in the solution have a significant influence on the morphology of TiO 2 particles. When the mass ratio of TBOT/PEG- b -PDFMA is 0.25/1, oval cuboid TiO 2 particles with mesopores are obtained, which exhibits a high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under UV light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The therapeutic outcome of photothermal therapy (PTT) remains impeded by the transparent depth of light. Combining PTT with immunotherapy provides strategies to solve this problem. Regulating metabolism‐related enzymes is a promising strategy to stimulate immune response. Here, a nanosystem (NLG919/IR780 micelles) with the properties of photothermal conversion and regulation of the tryptophan metabolic pathway is used to suppress the growth of the tumor margin beyond effective PTT and promote tumor PTT and immunotherapy. It is revealed that mild heat treatment promotes the growth of the tumor margin beyond effective PTT for the upregulation of heat shock protein (HSP), indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO), and programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1). The NLG919/IR780 micelles can effectively inhibit the activity of IDO but do not affect the level of IDO expression. NLG919/IR780 micelles can effectively accumulate in the tumor and can migrate to lymph nodes and the lymphatic system. In vivo antitumor studies reveal that NLG919/IR780 micelles effectively suppress the growth of tumor margin following PTT in primary tumors. NLG919/IR780 micelle‐mediated PTT and IDO inhibition further stimulate the activation of T lymphocytes, inhibiting the growth of distal tumors (abscopal effect). The results demonstrate that the NLG919/IR780 micelles combine PTT and immunotherapy and suppress the tumor margin as well as distal tumor growth post photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different structures of Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using poly(2-vinylpyridine) -b-poly(ethylene oxide) (P2VP-b-PEO) block copolymers as capping agent. The method involve the complextion of P2VP-b-PEO with Cu(NO3)2and then reduction of Cu2+to Cu2O by hydrazine hydrate. By adjusting the molar ratio of hydrazine hydrate to Cu2+(MR), hollow spheres, solid spheres, cubes and octahedron can be fabricated. However, when Au NPs are used as seeds for Cu2O formation, Au-Cu2O core-shell NPs were obtained and the MR have little effect on the morphology of Cu2O nanostructures. The prepared Cu2O NPs with different structures may find applications in solar energy photovoltaics and photocatalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A universal electrospray-carbonization approach to prepare ternary metal/SiO x /nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) superstructures is proposed, where metal (Fe, Co, Ni, CoNi, FeNi, FeCo and FeCoNi) and small SiO x nanoparticles (NPs) are homogeneously distributed in NC matrix. Metal greatly promotes the electrochemical activity and stability of the SiO x system, which can be considered as high-performance Li-ion-battery anodes. [Display omitted] • Metal/SiO x /nitrogen-doped carbon superstructures are designed as LIB anodes. • Nitrogen-doped carbon inhibits the gathering of SiO x and relieves its strain. • Ultrasmall Ni nanoparticles and nitrogen-doped carbon improve the kinetics of SiO x. • The strategy to prepare multiple SiO x - or metal-based composites is universal. For silicon oxides (SiO x) as a prospective Li-ion-battery anode material, the low inherent conductivity and huge volume fluctuation during cycling immensely limit their electrochemical performance. Herein, a universal electrospray-carbonization approach to prepare ternary metal/SiO x /nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) superstructures is proposed. Accordingly, metal (Fe, Co, Ni, CoNi, FeNi, FeCo and FeCoNi) nanoparticles (NPs) and small SiO x NPs derived from rice husks (RHs) are homogeneously distributed in the NC matrix. Metal (Fe, Co, Ni) NP-embedded NC frameworks avoid the accumulation, increase the conductivity and accommodate adequent volume expansion of SiO x NPs. This results in an enhanced rate capability and excellent cycle stability upon cycling. Besides, Ni/SiO x /NC (NSC) superstructures with ultra-small Ni NPs can exhibit better electrochemical kinetics for fast diffusion of ions and charge transfer and cyclability than Co/SiO x /NC (CSC) and Fe/SiO x /NC (FSC) composites. When NSC superstructures are employed as lithium-ion battery (LIB) anodes, superior specific capacities of 757.5 mA h g−1 at the 200th cycle, as well as superb long cyclability with discharge capacities of 665.0 mA h g−1 for 500 cycles at 500 mA g−1 and 116.3 mA h g−1 at the 5000th cycle, even at 10 A g−1, are achieved. Furthermore, the easy and general approach for preparing multiple SiO x -, metal- or alloy-based superstructures paves the way for designing high-performance rechargeable batteries and electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) wrapped with hexagonal wurtzite ZnCdS nanoparticles with a uniform and small diameter have been prepared to form ZnCdS-MWCNT heterostructures by microwave-assisted route using Zn(Ac), Cd(NO), and thioacetamide as the reactants The heterostructures have been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and PL excited lifetime. Despite the analogous size and configuration, the ZnCdS-MWCNT ( x = 0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8, 1) with different Zn concentration exhibit composition-dependent absorption properties in the visible zone. The PL peak positions of ZnCdS-MWCNT change gradually from ZnS-MWCNT to CdS-MWCNT. The ZnCdS-MWCNT shows different photocatalytic activity towards the photodegradation of fuchsin acid under visible light illumination, photocatalytic activity of the ZnCdS-MWCNT decreases gradually with the increase in the Zn concentration, the ZnCdS-MWCNT possessed the best photocatalytic activity. After recycling thrice, the photocatalysts still have about 85% efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal sulfides have attracted tremendous attention as electrode materials for sodium-ion batteries due to their high theoretical capacity. In this article, Ag 2 S nanospheres with 70 nm diameter were prepared by a hydrothermal method. Compared with the bulk Ag 2 S, the as-prepared Ag 2 S nanospheres deliver the capacity of 198 mAh/g after 100 cycles at 1C, exhibiting excellent cycling and rate performance as the electrode material for sodium-ion batteries. The remarkable electrochemical performance can be attributed to the shorter Na+ diffusion path in Ag 2 S nanospheres. Structural characterization reveals that the sodiation processes of Ag 2 S include intercalation and conversion reactions, which were confirmed by potential relaxation technique (PRT) measurements. • Ag 2 S nanospheres were prepared with a hydrothermal method. • Ag 2 S electrode for sodium-ion batteries is firstly investigated. • Ag2S nanospheres exhibit excellent cycle and rate performance for sodium-ion batteries. • Sodiation mechanism of Ag 2 S is a multi-step reaction, including intercalation and conversion reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: FeNi alloy nanoparticles with controllable sizes were attached on the multiwalled carbon nanotubes by adjusting the atomic ratio of metal to carbon in the mixed solution of nitrate with Fe:Ni=1:1 (atomic ratio) via wet chemistry. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM indicated that quasi-spherical FeNi alloy nanoparticles with sizes in the range 12–25nm are obtained. FeNi alloy composed of major face center cubic (fcc) and minor body center cubic (bcc) structures, which is proved by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD). Magnetization measured by vibrating sample magnetometer demonstrated that both the coercive force and saturation magnetizations decrease as the size of the FeNi alloy nanoparticles decreased. The chemical method is promising for fabricating FeNi alloy nanoparticles attached on carbon nanotubes for magnetic storage and ultra high-density magnetic recording applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]