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We present the advancement of the photocatalytic water pollutant degradation efficiency of a porous organic polymer material via post-synthetic modification with platinum clusters.

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has garnered extensive attention as a noninvasive treatment for deep tumors. Furthermore, imiquimod (R837), an FDA-approved toll-like receptor 7 agonist, is commonly used in clinical settings as an immune adjuvant. We prepared an activatable sonodynamic sensitizer platform (MR) based on glutathione-sensitive disulfide bonds linking Leu-MB, the reduced form of methylene blue (MB), and R837 to achieve efficient combinatory SDT and immunotherapy for tumors without harming normal tissues. We also used the amphiphilic polymer C

Light-based phototherapy has been developed for cancer treatment owing to its non-invasiveness and spatiotemporal control. Despite the unique merits of phototherapy, one critical disadvantage of light is its limited penetration depth, which restricts its application in cancer treatment. Although many researchers have developed various strategies to deliver light into deep-seated tumors with two-photon and near-infrared light irradiation, phototherapy encounters the peculiar limitations of light. In addition, high oxygen dependency is another limitation of photodynamic therapy to treat hypoxic tumors. To overcome the drawbacks of conventional treatments, various energy sources have been developed for cancer treatment. Generally, most energy sources, such as ultrasound, chemiluminescence, radiation, microwave, electricity, and magnetic field, are relatively free from the restraint of penetration depth. Combining other strategies or therapies with other energy-source-based therapies improves the strength and compensates for the weakness. This tutorial review focuses on recent advances in the diverse energy sources utilized in cancer treatment and their future perspectives.

Elucidating the underlying photochemical mechanisms of action (MoA) of photodynamic therapy (PDT) may allow its efficacy to be improved and could set the stage for the development of new classes of PDT photosensitizers. Here, we provide evidence that “photoredox catalysis in cells,” wherein key electron transport pathways are disrupted, could constitute a general MoA associated with PDT. Taking the cellular electron donor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as an example, we have found that well-known photosensitizers, such as Rose Bengal, BODIPY, phenoselenazinium, phthalocyanine, and porphyrin derivatives, are able to catalyze its conversion to NAD + . This MoA stands in contrast to conventional type I and type II photoactivation mechanisms involving electron and energy transfer, respectively. A newly designed molecular targeting photocatalyst (termed CatER) was designed to test the utility of this mechanism-based approach to photosensitizer development. Photoexcitation of CatER induces cell pyroptosis via the caspase 3/GSDME pathway. Specific epidermal growth factor receptor positive cancer cell recognition, high signal-to-background ratio tumor imaging (SBRTI = 12.2), and good tumor growth inhibition (TGI = 77.1%) are all hallmarks of CatER. CatER thus constitutes an effective near-infrared pyroptotic cell death photo-inducer. We believe the present results will provide the foundation for the synthesis of yet-improved phototherapeutic agents that incorporate photocatalytic chemistry into their molecular design.

Finding a personalized nano theranostics solution, a nanomedicine for cancer diagnosis and therapy, is among the top challenges of current medicinal science. Porous organic polymers (POPs) are permanent porous organic materials prepared by linking relatively rigid multidimensional organic building blocks. POP nanoparticles have a remarkable advantage for cancer theranostics owing to their specific physicochemical characteristics such as high surface area, convincing pore size engineering, stimuli-responsive degradability, negligible toxicity, open covalent post-synthesis modification possibilities etc. POPs have crystalline and non-crystalline characteristics; crystalline POPs are popularly known as covalent organic frameworks (COFs), and have shown potential application across research areas in science. The early research and development on theranostics applications of nanoscale POPs has shown tremendous future potential for clinical translation. This tutorial review highlights the recently developed promising applications of nPOPs in drug loading, targeted delivery, endogenous and exogenous stimuli-responsive release, cancer imaging and combination therapy, regardless of their crystalline and poorly crystalline properties. The review will provide a platform for the future development and clinical translation of nPOPs by solving fundamental challenges of cancer nanomedicines in drug loading efficiency, size-optimization, biocompatibility, dispersibility and cell uptake ability.

Pnictogens (the non-metal phosphorus, metalloids arsenic and antimony, and metal bismuth) possess diverse chemical characteristics that support the formation of extended molecular structures. As witnessed by the centuries-old (and ongoing) clinical utilities, pnictogen-based compounds have secured their places in history as "magic bullet" therapeutic drugs in medicinal contexts. Moreover, with the development of recent metalloproteomics and bio-coordination chemistry, the pnictogen-based drugs functionally binding to proteins/enzymes in biological systems have been underlaid for "drug repurposing" with promising opportunities. Furthermore, advances in the modern materials science and nonotechnology have stimulated a revolution in other newly discovered forms of pnictogens-phosphorene, arsenene, antimonene, and bismuthine (layered pnictogens). Based on their favorable optoelectronic properties, layered pnictogens have shown dramatic superiority as emerging photonic nanomedicines for the treatment of various diseases. This tutorial review outlines the history and mechanism of action of ancient pnictogen-based drugs (e.g., arsenical compounds in traditional Chinese medicine) and their repurposing into modern therapeutics. Then, the revolutionary use of emerging layered pnictogens as photonic nanomedicines, alongside assessments of their in vivo biosafety, is discussed. Finally, the challenges to further development of pnictogens are set forth and insights for further exploration of their appealing properties are offered. This tutorial review may also provide some deep insights into the fields of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicines from the perspective of materials science and nanotechnology.

Due to the low autofluorescence and deep-photo penetration, the second near-infrared region fluorescence imaging technology (NIR-II, 1000-2000 nm) has been widely utilized in basic scientific research and preclinical practice throughout the past decade. The most attractive candidates for clinical translation are organic NIR-II fluorophores with a small-molecule framework, owing to their low toxicity, high synthetic repeatability, and simplicity of chemical modification. In order to enhance the translation of small molecule applications in NIR-II bioimaging, NIR-II fluorescence imaging technology has evolved from its usage in cells to the diagnosis of diseases in large animals and even humans. Although several examples of NIR-II fluorescence imaging have been used in preclinical studies, there are still many challenges that need to be addressed before they can finally be used in clinical settings. In this paper, we reviewed the evolution of the chemical structures and photophysical properties of small-molecule fluorophores, with an emphasis on their biomedical applications ranging from small animals to humans. We also explored the potential of small-molecule fluorophores.

Photodynamic therapy combined with immunogenic cell death has been proposed to overcome the unsolvable problems of single therapy, such as high levels of tumor recurrence and treatment resistance of tumors. Previous works on this theme have mostly concentrated on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stressed damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), ignoring the secretion and function of mitochondria-related DAMPs. Herein, our work reports two intersystem crossing photosensitizers based on well-designed multiarylpyrrole structures and draws valuable attention to mitochondria-related DAMP-TFAM (mitochondrial transcription factor) when cancer cells are under forceful oxidative stress. The tumors vanished, and immunogenic experiments were applied to illuminate the advantages of double treatment. Our discovery of new mitochondria-related DAMPs compensates for the lack of ER-stressed DAMPs and offers an innovative target for immunity therapy.

Angiogenic signaling pathway is a major contributing factor in cancer recurrence and progression, which can cause significantly reduced treatment outcomes, especially in the oxygen‐dependent photo‐ and sonodynamic therapies. VEGF and its receptor (VEGFR) play a crucial role in angiogenesis progression; precisely, upregulated VEGF signaling is mainly associated with angiogenesis progression in many types of cancers. Herein, we report a sunitinib‐conjugated sonosensitizer (TK‐RB: tyrosine kinase‐rose bengal) to enhance the anticancer efficacy through VEGF inhibition‐mediated antiangiogenesis in conjunction with cellular/tumor damage by ROS generated under ultrasound irradiation. TK‐RB reveals good selectivity and cytotoxicity toward VEGFR‐positive cells (U87MG) over VEGFR‐negative cells (MCF‐7). The fluorescent imaging analysis in vivo/ex vivo and the tumor growth investigation in nude mice with U87MG glioblastoma tumor xenografts demonstrate that rose bengal having tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TK‐RB) provides an enhanced antitumor effect. The current strategy will make a great contribution to optimizing anticancer performance by utilizing sonodynamic therapy together with antiangiogenics in several different malignancies.

We report a novel nanostructured chemosensing ensemble PyNp-C13/UD, obtained by self-assembling uranine dye (UD) and an amphiphilic pyridinium salt PyNp-C13. The ensemble was developed for the fluorescence turn-on sensing of ATP in aqueous solutions and inside living cells. The assembly operates via an indicator displacement assay (IDA) method with an ultra-low detection limit of 6.8 nM. ispartof: CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS vol:55 issue:94 pages:14135-14138 ispartof: location:England status: published

A mercury sensor (N-(rhodamine-6G)lactam-ethylenediamine-4-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde&mdash, RLED) based on the Hg2+-promoted hydrolysis reaction has been designed and developed with a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental investigations. The interaction between RLED and Hg2+ goes through a fast-initial stage with formation of a 1:1 complex, followed by a slow hydrolysis process. The formation of durable intermediate complexes is due to quite a long hydrolysis reaction time. As a result, RLED can selectively detect Hg2+ in the presence of other metal ions, with a detection limit of 0.08 &mu, M for the colorimetric method, and of 0.008 &mu, M with the fluorescent method. In addition, the RLED sensor can work in a solution with a small amount of organic solvent, with a wide pH range from 5 to 10. The time-dependent density functional theory has been used for investigations of the excitation and de-excitation processes in RLED, intermediate complexes, and reaction products, thereby clarifying the changes in the fluorescence intensity before and after the RLED interacts with Hg2+ ions.

Fluorescence imaging is an essential and interdisciplinary optical technique that uses light signals from molecules, cells, and living organisms to visualize dynamic biological processes. Moreover, with recent remarkable breakthroughs in the development of chemical mechanisms (e.g., aggregation-induced emission, donor-π-acceptor electron manipulation for near IR region II fluorescence emission, multi-photon absorption and molecular rotor), nanofabrication technologies, and newly discovered biomarkers, the opportunities to generate multifunctional bespoke probes for the rapid analysis and highly accurate diagnosis of early-stage cancers have increased. In this article, we mainly review the recent advances in some representative small molecule-based fluorescence probes and their nanocomposites with an emphasis on the design principles to enhance the recognition selectivity/sensitivity, improve the signal-to-background ratio, amplify the fluorescence emission brightness, and optimize the tissue penetration depth. Furthermore, we highlight the current challenges and further opportunities from the viewpoint of the practical applications of this emerging field.

Neurodegenerative diseases are debilitating disorders that feature progressive and selective loss of function or structure of anatomically or physiologically associated neuronal systems. Both chronic and acute neurodegenerative diseases are associated with high morbidity and mortality along with the death of neurons in different areas of the brain; moreover, there are few or no effective curative therapy options for treating these disorders. There is an urgent need to diagnose neurodegenerative disease as early as possible, and to distinguish between different disorders with overlapping symptoms that will help to decide the best clinical treatment. Recently, in neurodegenerative disease research, fluorescent-probe-mediated biomarker visualization techniques have been gaining increasing attention for the early diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. A survey of fluorescent probes for sensing and imaging biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases is provided. These imaging probes are categorized based on the different potential biomarkers of various neurodegenerative diseases, and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Guides to develop new sensing strategies, recognition mechanisms, as well as the ideal features to further improve neurodegenerative disease fluorescence imaging are also explored.

A mercury sensor (N-(rhodamine-6G)lactam-ethylenediamine-4-dimethylamino-cinnamaldehyde—RLED) based on the Hg2+-promoted hydrolysis reaction has been designed and developed with a combination of theoretical calculations and experimental investigations. The interaction between RLED and Hg2+ goes through a fast-initial stage with formation of a 1:1 complex, followed by a slow hydrolysis process. The formation of durable intermediate complexes is due to quite a long hydrolysis reaction time. As a result, RLED can selectively detect Hg2+ in the presence of other metal ions, with a detection limit of 0.08 μM for the colorimetric method, and of 0.008 μM with the fluorescent method. In addition, the RLED sensor can work in a solution with a small amount of organic solvent, with a wide pH range from 5 to 10. The time-dependent density functional theory has been used for investigations of the excitation and de-excitation processes in RLED, intermediate complexes, and reaction products, thereby clarifying the changes in the fluorescence intensity before and after the RLED interacts with Hg2+ ions.

Activatable (turn-on) probes that permit the rapid, sensitive, selective, and accurate identification of cancer-associated biomarkers can help drive advances in cancer research. Herein, a NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1)-specific chemiluminescent probe 1 is reported that allows the differentiation between cancer subtypes. Probe 1 incorporates an NQO1-specific trimethyl-locked quinone trigger moiety covalently tethered to a phenoxy-dioxetane moiety through a para-aminobenzyl alcohol linker. Bio-reduction of the quinone to the corresponding hydroquinone results in a chemiluminescent signal. As inferred from a combination of in vitro cell culture analyses and in vivo mice studies, the probe is safe, cell permeable, and capable of producing a "turn-on" luminescence response in an NQO1-positive A549 lung cancer model. On this basis, probe 1 can be used to identify cancerous cells and tissues characterized by elevated NQO1 levels.

Theranostic systems are receiving ever-increasing attention due to their potential therapeutic utility, imaging enhancement capability, and promise for advancing the fields of personalized medicine, particularly as it relates to the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of cancer. In this tutorial review, we provide an introduction to the concepts of theranostic drug delivery effected via use of conjugates that are able to target cancer cells selectively, provide cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, and produce readily monitored imaging signals in vitro and in vivo. The underlying design concepts, requiring the synthesis of conjugates composed of imaging reporters, masked chemotherapeutic drugs, cleavable linkers, and cancer targeting ligands, are discussed. Particular emphasis is placed on highlighting the potential benefits of fluorogenic reaction-based targeted systems that are activated for both imaging and therapy by cellular entities, e.g., thiols, reactive oxygen species and enzymes, which are present at relatively elevated levels in tumour environments, physiological characteristics of cancer, e.g., hypoxia and acidic pH. Also discussed are systems activated by an external stimulus, such as light. The work summarized in this tutorial review will help define the role fluorogenic reaction-based, cancer-targeting theranostics may have in advancing drug discovery efforts, as well as improving our understanding of cellular uptake and drug release mechanisms.

This paper suggests a way of generating one-day load curves for performance improvement of peak shaving in a power system. This Peak Shaving algorithm is a long-term scheduling algorithm of PMS (Power Management System) for BESS (Battery Energy Storage System). The main purpose of a PMS is to manage the input and output power from battery modules placed in a power system. Generally, when a Peak Shaving algorithm is used, a difference occurs between predict load curves and real load curves. This paper suggests a way of minimizing the difference by making predict load curves that consider weekly normalization and seasonal load characteristics for smooth energy charging and discharging.