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Thermoset polymers cross-linked by dynamic covalent bonds are recyclable and reconfigurable based on solid-state plasticity, resulting in less waste and environmental pollution. However, most thermoset polymers previously reported show thermal-responsive solid-state plasticity, depending much on external conditions and not allowing for local shape modulation. Here, the isocyanate modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs-NCO) are introduced into the polythiourethane (PCTU) network with multiple dynamic covalent bonds by in situ polymerization to prepare the composite with thermal/light dual-responsive solid-state plasticity, reconfigurability, and recyclability. The introduction of CNTs-NCO simultaneously strengthens and toughens the PCTU composite. Moreover, based on the photothermal properties and light-responsive solid-state plasticity, the PCTU/CNTs composite or bilayer sample could achieve complex permanent shape by locally precise shape regulation without affecting other parts. This work provides a simple and reliable method for preparing high-performance polymer composite with light-responsive solid-state plasticity, which may be applied in the fields of sensing and flexible electronics.

The estrogen membrane receptor GPR30 (also known as G-protein coupled receptor 30) has recently been shown to be involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation and cumulus expansion. However, whether GPR30 expression is regulated by gonadotropin stimulation and how it participates in the regulation of the maturation process is still not clear. In this study, we explored the mechanism underlying the synergy between luteinizing hormone and 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) to improve the epidermal growth factor (EGF) response in cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) during oocyte maturation in mice. The expression and distribution of GPR30, EGFR, and EGF-like growth factors were examined by real-time quantitative PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence staining. Lyso-Tracker Red labeling was performed to detect the lysosomal activity in follicle granular cells (FGCs). Cumulus expansion of COCs was evaluated after in vitro maturation for 16 h. We found that EGF-like growth factors transmit LH signals to increase GRP30 levels by inhibiting protein degradation in lysosomes. Meanwhile, 17β-E2 stimulates the GPR30 signaling pathway to increase EGF receptor levels, enhancing the response ability of EGF signaling in COCs and thus promoting cumulus expansion. In conclusion, our study reveals the synergistic mechanism between LH and estrogen in the regulation of cumulus expansion during oocyte maturation process.

In the development of modern high-performance photoelectric materials, the gated photochromic materials have attracted wide attention. However, the integration of varying signal regulations into gated photochromism to construct efficient photochromic materials is still an urgent necessity. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new gated photoswitching DTEP based on a Schiff base with a diarylethene core. The photochromic properties of compound DTEP can be regulated to different degrees by multiple stimuli, including UV/visible light, Cu2+ and Ni2+. The compound DTEP showed different response abilities to Cu2+ and Ni2+, due to the diverse complexation modes between DTEP and Cu2+ as well as Ni2+. The photochromic properties of compound DTEP could be inhibited completely by the introduction of Cu2+ to form a 1 : 1 complexation, while the weak gated photochromism could be found from the DTEP–Ni2+ complex in a 1 : 2 stoichiometry. Relying on such varying degrees of gated photochromic properties, a new molecular logic circuit was constructed to undertake complicated logical operations.

Pushing forward the red-shifting of electronic transitions in organic dyes is potentially important for applications in photodynamical chemistry and therapies. In this work, a series of BODIPY derivatives conjugated with azulene at different substituent positions were synthesized and investigated in depth. These compounds are shown to exhibit varying bathochromic shifts of their electronic transitions, as well as a further red-shift of the absorption by the modification of the compounds with iodine. Moreover, self-assembly and protonation of these compounds lead to hundreds of nanometer red-shifted electronic transitions, up to NIR-II window, relative to traditional BODIPYs. On this basis, a unique photoproduction of singlet oxygen species can be achieved under corresponding long-wavelength irradiation both in organic solution and in water, featuring a superior photosensitivity and photodynamic potential of the molecular design.

The tunable photochromic systems have received wide attention in the photoelectronic fields. Herein, we report a diarylethene derivative attached with 2-hydrazylbenzothiazole via Schiff base, which shows the typical photochromic properties upon alternating irradiation with UV and visible light. Remarkably, the varying binding mode and complex strength between the diarylethene and selective metal ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, Cr3+, Sn2+ and Al3+) enable the methanol solution of the diarylethene to exhibit stepwise photochromic reactivity by virtue of these metal ions. The photochromic reactivity of the diarylethene could be suppressed at different levels by the formation of the complex with Cu2+ and Ni2+ in a 2:1 binding mode, respectively, whereas the photochromic reactivity was enhanced to varying degrees by Cr3+, Sn2+ and Al3+ in a 1:1 binding mode. Based on these multiple stimuli responses, a logic circuit with six input signals and three output signals was constructed to perform complex logical operations at the single molecular level.