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The current strategy of co-delivering copper ions and disulfiram (DSF) to generate cytotoxic CuET faces limitations in achieving rapid and substantial CuET production, specifically in tumor lesions. To overcome this challenge, we introduce a novel burst-release cascade reactor composed of phase change materials (PCMs) encapsulating ultrasmall Cu2-xSe nanoparticles (NPs) and DSF (DSF/Cu2-xSe@PCM). Once triggered by second near-infrared (NIR-II) light irradiation, the reactor swiftly releases Cu2-xSe NPs and DSF, enabling catalytic reactions that lead to the rapid and massive production of Cu2-xSe-ET complexes, thereby achieving in situ chemotherapy. The mechanism of the burst reaction is due to the unique properties of ultrasmall Cu2-xSe NPs, including their small size, multiple defects, and high surface activity. These characteristics allow DSF to be directly reduced and chelated on the surface defect sites of Cu2-xSe, forming Cu2-xSe-ET complexes without the need for copper ion release. Additionally, Cu2-xSe-ET has demonstrated a similar (to CuET) anti-tumor activity through increased autophagy, but with even greater potency due to its unique two-dimensional-like structure. The light-triggered cascade of interlocking reactions, coupled with in situ explosive generation of tumor-suppressive substances mediated by the size and valence of Cu2-xSe, presents a promising approach for the development of innovative nanoplatforms in the field of precise tumor chemotherapy.

A quaternary ammonium salt, N, N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl)-N-methyl dodecyl ammonium chloride (BHMDC), with high surface activity, was screened and firstly introduced in the reverse flotation of hematite ores based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation and surface tension measurement. The interaction mechanism of BHMDC on the surfaces of quartz and hematite was studied by zeta potential measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. The results of DFT calculation and surface tension measurement indicated that BHMDC had higher selectivity and hydrophobicity than dodecylamine (DDA). The analyses of zeta potential measurement, FTIR, and XPS demonstrated that the adsorption of BHMDC on hematite and quartz surfaces were mainly dependent on hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction. Due to the more active sites (O atoms), the weaker charge and larger size of polar groups, BHMDC had better simulation results in performance than DDA, especially in selectivity. The flotation tests showed that BHMDC exhibited better flotation performance, which was consistent with the results of DFT calculation. And the efficient separation of hematite and quartz within the wide pH value range (4.0-10.0) was determined, which was also confirmed by zeta potential measurement. It also indicated that BHMDC was an excellent collector in the reverse flotation of hematite ores with great industrial potential, which could obtain the concentrate with the Fe grade of 65.37% and recovery of 88.92%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current strategy of co-delivering copper ions and disulfiram (DSF) to generate cytotoxic CuET faces limitations in achieving rapid and substantial CuET production, specifically in tumor lesions. To overcome this challenge, we introduce a novel burst-release cascade reactor composed of phase change materials (PCMs) encapsulating ultrasmall Cu 2-x Se nanoparticles (NPs) and DSF (DSF/Cu 2-x Se@PCM). Once triggered by second near-infrared (NIR-II) light irradiation, the reactor swiftly releases Cu 2-x Se NPs and DSF, enabling catalytic reactions that lead to the rapid and massive production of Cu 2-x Se-ET complexes, thereby achieving in situ chemotherapy. The mechanism of the burst reaction is due to the unique properties of ultrasmall Cu 2-x Se NPs, including their small size, multiple defects, and high surface activity. These characteristics allow DSF to be directly reduced and chelated on the surface defect sites of Cu 2-x Se, forming Cu 2-x Se-ET complexes without the need for copper ion release. Additionally, Cu 2-x Se-ET has demonstrated a similar (to CuET) anti-tumor activity through increased autophagy, but with even greater potency due to its unique two-dimensional-like structure. The light-triggered cascade of interlocking reactions, coupled with in situ explosive generation of tumor-suppressive substances mediated by the size and valence of Cu 2-x Se, presents a promising approach for the development of innovative nanoplatforms in the field of precise tumor chemotherapy., Competing Interests: 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)