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In this study, we developed a hair-coating polyphenol complex (PPC) that showed ultraviolet (UV) protection properties, antistatic features, and the capability to enhance the mechanical strength of damaged hair. PPCs prepared with different ratios of tannic acid (TA), gallic acid (GA), and caffeic acid (CA) simultaneously increased the self-recovery of damaged hair by protecting the cuticle. PPC prevented light from passing through the damaged hair during exposure to UV radiation. Moreover, surfaces coated with PPC1 (TA:GA:CA, 100:20:0.5) exhibited a higher conductivity than surfaces coated with PPCs with other ratios of TA, GA, and CA, with a resistance of 0.72 MΩ. This influenced the antistatic performance of the surface, which exhibited no electrical attraction after being subjected to an electrostatic force. Additionally, damaged hair exhibited a significant increase in durability and elasticity after coating with a PPC1-containing shampoo, with a tensile strain of up to 2.06× post-treatment, indicating the recovery of the damaged cuticle by the PPC complex. Furthermore, PPC1-containing shampoo prevented damage by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species in the hair. The combination effect promoted by the natural PPC offers new insights into hair treatment and paves the way for further exploration of hair restoration technology.

This study investigated a selective and sensitive theragnosis system for the specific targeting of the membrane and nuclei based on visible-light and pH-responsive TiO2-integrated cross-linked carbon dot (C-CD/TiO2) for tumor detection and controllable photothermal therapy. The cross-linking system was formed by boronate ester linkages between the TiO2-immobilized Dopa-decyl (D-CD) and zwitterionic-formed CD (Z-CD) for nuclear targeting, which showed fluorescence "off" at physiological pH. The fluorescence recovered to the "on" state in acidic cancer cells owing to cleavages of the boronate ester bonds, resulting in the disruption of the Forster resonance energy transfer that generated different CDs useful for tumor-selective biosensors and therapy. D-CD, which is hydrophobic, can penetrate the hydrophobic sites of the cell membrane; it caused a loss in the hydrophobicity of these sites after visible-light irradiation. This was achieved by the photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 modulating energy bandgap, whereas the Z-CD targeted the nucleus, as confirmed by merged confocal microscopy images. D-CD augmented by photothermal heat also exhibited selective anticancer activity in the acidic tumor condition but showed only minimal effects at a normal site at pH 7.4. After C-CD/TiO2 injection to an in vivo tumor model, C-CD/TiO2 efficiently ablated tumors under NIR light irradiation. The C-CD/TiO2 group showed up-regulation of the pro-apoptotic markers such as P53 and BAX in tumor. This material exhibited its potential as a theragnostic sensor with excellent biocompatibility, high sensitivity, selective imaging, and direct anticancer activity via photothermal therapy.

Recently, a great deal of research has focused on the study of self-healing hydrogels possessing electronic conductivity due to their wide applicability for use in biosensors, bioelectronics, and energy storage. The low solubility, poor biocompatibility, and lack of effective stimuli-responsive properties of their sp2 carbon-rich hybrid organic polymers, however, have proven challenging for their use in electroconductive self-healing hydrogel fabrication. In this study, we developed stimuli-responsive electrochemical wireless hydrogel biosensors using ureidopyriminone-conjugated gelatin (Gel-UPy) hydrogels that incorporate diselenide-containing carbon dots (dsCD) for cancer detection. The cleavage of diselenide groups of the dsCD within the hydrogels by glutathione (GSH) or reactive oxygen species (ROS) initiates the formation of hydrogen bonds that affect the self-healing ability, conductivity, and adhesiveness of the Gel-UPy/dsCD hydrogels. The Gel-UPy/dsCD hydrogels demonstrate more rapid healing under tumor conditions (MDA-MB-231) compared to that observed under physiological conditions (MDCK). Additionally, the cleavage of diselenide bonds affects the electrochemical signals due to the degradation of dsCD. The hydrogels also exhibit excellent adhesiveness and in vivo cancer detection ability after exposure to a high concentration of GSH or ROS, and this is comparable to results observed in a low concentration environment. Based on the combined self-healing, conductivity, and adhesiveness properties of the Gel-UPy/dsCD, this hydrogel exhibits promise for use in biomedical applications, particularly those that involve cancer detection, due to its selectivity and sensitivity under tumor conditions.

The present study aimed to develop a bio-adhesive material with excellent hemostatic and rapid wound healing properties using a catechol moiety (2chloro-3′,4′-dihydroxyacetophenone) conjugated to poly(dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate-co-t-butyl methacrylate) [poly(DMA-co-t-BMA)-2-chloro-3′,4′-dihydroxyacetophenone (CA), C-PDB]. The desired glue matrix was formed by crosslinking between C-PDB and chitosan via the Michael addition reaction. During glue matrix formation, chitosan plays a vital role as a cross-linker because the amine group of chitosan can easily react with the quinone from CA, based on catechol chemistry under mild alkaline conditions. Lap shear strength tests showed that the formulated glue matrix had a significant adhesive force at around 1.288 MPa and it formed quickly in vitro. In addition, when applied on a bleeding site on a rat aorta in vivo, the prepared glue matrix displayed strong hemostatic behavior. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson’s trichrome, and reticulin staining of wounds (hepatic tissue) treated with the prepared glue matrix displayed rapid wound healing. Therefore, the prepared glue matrix is a potential candidate as a hemostatic and wound-healing agent for clinical applications.

This study investigated a selective and sensitive theragnosis system for the specific targeting of the membrane and nuclei based on visible-light and pH-responsive TiO

The utilization of visible light and pyrophosphates (PPi) accompanied by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity-responsive cancer cells-targeting carbon dots using carbonized hyaluronic acid (CD(HA)) by means of electrochemical signals generated from CD(HA)/TiO2/Cu2+-coated surfaces was investigated. The stimuli-responsive surface provided an effective method for wireless sensors under intracellular conditions with an antifouling effect to visualize the cell adhesion interaction with the surface as well as the detection of cancer cells. The highly distinctive intracellular PPi and ALP levels of cancer cells compared to normal cells and CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis by the CD(HA) chain into cancer cells induced an electrochemical signal change in cell-cultured biosensors detected by electrochemical methods including EIS and a wireless sensing system. The antifouling properties of CD(HA)/TiO2/Cu2+ verified by the time-dependent cell detachment occurring on the modified surfaces in the presence of visible light were employed for the detection of cancer. The resistance of cancer cell-cultured CD(HA)/TiO2/Cu2+ biosensors considerably increased (248 kΩ) as detachment time triggered by visible light irradiation increased compared to normal cells (152 kΩ), which was ascribed to the dissociation of Cu2+ in the system by PPi and ALP in cancer cells and the cellular internalization of CD(HA). With high sensitivity and accuracy for cancer detection by the visible light and enzyme-responsiveness with low LOD value (2.31 cells/mL) on basis of electrochemical approach and 70.05 cells/mL for optical approach, the CD(HA)/TiO2/Cu2+ wireless biosensor offers a promising approach that facilitates cancer diagnosis with antifouling effects to investigate the interaction between cells and modified surfaces.

Herein, we describe the fabrication and characterization of carbonized disulfide core-crosslinked polymer dots with pH-cleavable colorimetric nanosensors, based on diol dye-conjugated fluorescent polymer dots (L-PD), for reduction-triggered paclitaxel (PTX) release during fluorescence imaging-guided chemotherapy of tumors. L-PD were loaded with PTX (PTX loaded L-PD), via &pi, &ndash, &pi, stackings or hydrophobic interactions, for selective theragnosis by enhanced release of PTX after the cleavage of disulfide bonds by high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in a tumor. The nano-hybrid system showed fluorescence quenching behavior with less than 2% of PTX released under physiological conditions. However, in a tumor microenvironment, the fluorescence recovered at an acidic-pH, and PTX (approximately 100% of the drug release) was released efficiently out of the matrix by reduction caused by the GSH level in the tumor cells, which improved the effectiveness of the cancer treatment. Therefore, the colorimetric nanosensor showed promising potential in distinguishing between normal and cancerous tissues depending on the surrounding pH and GSH concentrations so that PTX can be selectively delivered into cancer cells for improved cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.