Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dawid Lazewski, Malgorzata Kucinska, Edward Potapskiy, Joanna Kuzminska, Artur Tezyk, Lukasz Popenda, Stefan Jurga, Anna Teubert, Zofia Gdaniec, Jacek Kujawski, Katarzyna Grzyb, Tomasz Pedzinski, Marek Murias, Marcin Wierzchowski
Summary: This work focuses on the synthesis and characterization of metal-free, zinc (II), and cobalt (II) porphyrins with short PEG chains. The compounds were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques and mass spectrometry. The UV-Vis absorption bands of the compounds were determined using computational models based on DFT and TD-DFT. The compounds showed promising photosensitizing activity and were tested on different cancer cell lines. The results showed a clear structure-activity relationship between the substituents, their positions, and the central metal ions. Particularly, the metal-free and zinc derivatives exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against bladder cancer cells. Overall, this study highlights the potential application of these compounds in photodynamic therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Dmitriy A. Lazovskiy, Ivan A. Skvortsov, Veronika Novakova, Pavel A. Stuzhin
Summary: Phosphorus(v) complexes of octaphenyltetrapyrazinocorrolazine with two aryloxy groups were synthesized. Complex 2a with axial PhO groups fluoresces in multiple solvents and generates singlet oxygen effectively. The introduction of NMe2 and OH groups significantly affects fluorescence parameters and photosensitizing properties, with solvent and pH sensitivity.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Margarita Shleeva, Alexander Savitsky, Arseny Kaprelyants
Summary: The spread of multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains has led to the urgent need for new approaches to combat these diseases, with photodynamic inactivation (PDI) being a potentially effective alternative to antibiotics. Studies have shown that PDI can inactivate drug-resistant and dormant bacteria by generating active forms of oxygen.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mengfei Hou, Wandi Chen, Junkai Zhao, Deshen Dai, Mo Yang, Changqing Yi
Summary: Fluorescence imaging-guided photodynamic therapy using TCPP@PEI/PGA nanoparticles was demonstrated in this study. The nanoparticles showed excellent water-solubility, biocompatibility, in vivo bioimaging capabilities, and effective tumor cell killing upon laser irradiation.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Yi Yao, Jintao Yang, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: In this study, the interactions between polymers and proteins in confined microenvironments constructed by oligoethylene glycol (OEG)-based dendronized polymers were investigated. The aggregation state, charge state, and combination form of the dendronized polymers were identified as the main factors decoding the polymer-protein interactions. The thermoresponsiveness of the dendronized polymers allows for convenient regulation of microenvironment crowding and hydrophobicity, which in turn regulates protein activities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarzyna Janas, Ewa Boniewska-Bernacka, Gabriela Dyrda, Rudolf Slota
Summary: Recent investigations on targeted phototherapy for colorectal cancer have shown promising results, with porphyrins and phthalocyanines considered attractive for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Advanced molecular systems and smart drug carriers have made photodynamic therapy a viable option for treatment.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Pablo Vallecorsa, Gabriela Di Venosa, M. Belen Ballatore, Dario Ferreyra, Leandro Mamone, Daniel Saenz, Gustavo Calvo, Edgardo Durantini, Adriana Casas
Summary: The study evaluated the photoactivity of four meso-substituted porphyrins and a porphyrin coupled to a fullerene in vitro. The PS with the best photokilling activity was administered to mice bearing the LM3 subcutaneously implanted adenocarcinoma. The results showed high photoactivity against LM3 mammary carcinoma cells for TAPP, DAPP, TEMCC4+ and TEMCP4+, with TAPP being the most active.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Klaudia Michalska, Michal Rychlowski, Martyna Krupinska, Grzegorz Szewczyk, Tadeusz Sarna, Joanna Nakonieczna
Summary: The study showed that gallium mesoporphyrin IX (Ga3 + MPIX) has dual functionality in antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation, disrupting iron metabolism and possessing photosensitizer properties. It efficiently destroys bacteria with relatively low toxicity to eukaryotic cells and phototoxicity.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Carla I. M. Santos, Laura Rodriguez-Perez, Gil Goncalves, Cristina J. Dias, Fatima Monteiro, Maria do Amparo F. Faustino, Sandra Vieira, Luisa A. Helguero, Maria Angeles Herranz, Nazario Martin, M. Graca P. M. S. Neves, Jose M. G. Martinho, Ermelinda M. S. Macoas
Summary: Conjugation of porphyrins with graphene quantum dots improved internalization by cancer cells and showed promising results as phototherapeutic agents against breast cancer.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viviana Teresa Orlandi, Eleonora Martegani, Fabrizio Bolognese, Nicola Trivellin, Francesco Garzotto, Enrico Caruso
Summary: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is gaining attention as a promising tool for treating microbial infections and sanitizing environments. A study on a panel of photosensitizers found that dicationic diaryl-porphyrins show potential in efficiently photoinactivating Pseudomonas aeruginosa, including inhibiting biofilm formation. These findings suggest the potential applicability of dicationic diaryl-porphyrins in different fields for combating difficult-to-treat microbes like P. aeruginosa.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shuangmei Wu, Chen Xu, Yiwen Zhu, Liang Zheng, Ludan Zhang, Yang Hu, Bingran Yu, Yuguang Wang, Fu-Jian Xu
Summary: A pH-sensitive photodynamic nanosystem is designed in this study, which can convert its surface charge in acidic environments to enhance photoinactivation efficiency against gram-negative bacteria, and effectively penetrate and eradicate biofilms under acidic conditions.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Ana Maria Udrea, Adriana Smarandache, Andra Dinache, Catalina Mares, Simona Nistorescu, Speranta Avram, Angela Staicu
Summary: Malignant melanoma is a severe form of skin cancer with various risk factors, and photodynamic therapy using photosensitizers has shown promise in its treatment. However, the presence of melanin and its antioxidant properties can hinder the effectiveness of this therapy, leading to the exploration of new photosensitizing platforms. The use of nanotechnology has advanced the development of photosensitizers, enhancing solubility, optical absorption, and tumor targeting.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yegor E. E. Yegorov, Khava S. S. Vishnyakova, Xiaowen Pan, Anton E. E. Egorov, Konstantin V. V. Popov, Liana L. L. Tevonyan, Galina V. V. Chashchina, Dmitry N. N. Kaluzhny
Summary: The toxic effects of cationic porphyrins on human cells were studied in vitro. It was found that porphyrins are almost non-toxic under dark conditions, but become toxic under light exposure starting from nanomolar concentrations. They inhibit cell metabolism and colony formation, and cause blebbing and swelling of cells. The concentration dependence of membrane damage suggests limited porphyrin targets on the membrane, which should be considered in photodynamic therapy.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yanyan Li, Guichen Li, Qian Zhang, Yuxia Li, Qifan Jia, Wenyuan Zhang, Xiaoxia Feng, Weibing Xu, Jiacheng Liu
Summary: Three water-soluble porphyrins containing halogen atoms (F, Cl, Br) were synthesized, with P3 showing the highest singlet oxygen generation capacity. MTT assay confirmed good phototoxicity and high selectivity of P1-P3, while fluorescence imaging and intracellular reactive oxygen species demonstrated cell apoptosis and ROS production. The high ROS production and excellent phototoxicity make the photosensitizers potential candidates for PDT drugs.
CHEMICAL PHYSICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Claire Donohoe, Asterios Charisiadis, Sophie Maguire, Brendan Twamley, Fabio A. Schaberle, Ligia C. Gomes-da-Silva, Mathias O. Senge
Summary: The time dependence of atropisomer interconversion has hindered the development of single atropisomer drug candidates. The instability caused by moderate interconversion energy barriers is a concern for drug stability. However, there is a recent focus on developing stable atropisomer drugs with enhanced activity.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Gang Xu, Jiaxing Zhang, Ruitong Jia, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: This study reports the synthesis of a series of dendronized polymers and investigates the influence of their topological structures on molecular properties and dye transition within aggregates.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yi Yao, Shijie Cao, Xiacong Zhang, Jiatao Yan, Wen Li, Andrew K. Whittaker, Afang Zhang
Summary: Synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles with controllable sizes and morphologies using environment-friendly methods is both scientifically important and technologically challenging. In this study, monodispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were fabricated in aqueous conditions using dendronized chitosan oligosaccharides (CSOs) as templates. The CSOs with dendritic oligoethylene glycol pendants acted as both biocompatible materials and effective catalysts for the conversion of silver ions to narrowly distributed AgNPs under low energy visible light. These AgNPs embedded within dendronized CSOs demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity and showed potential for various bio-applications.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jindiao Wu, Jianan Zhang, Yanjun Liu, Jun Wang, Cheng Zhang, Jiatao Yan, Wen Li, Toshio Masuda, Andrew K. Whittaker, Afang Zhang
Summary: Molecules with C-3 symmetry and conjugated diacetylene cores can self-assemble into well-defined supramolecular fibers with enhanced chirality in both organic and aqueous solutions. The integration of symmetry and conjugation provides aggregation tendency through pi-pi stacking, resulting in supramolecular chirality predominantly influenced by steric hindrance from dipeptide pendants.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jongsun Yoon, Xiacong Zhang, Min Ryu, Won Hee Kim, Kyuwook Ihm, Jeong Wook Lee, Wen Li, Hyomin Lee
Summary: This study focuses on designing a polysaccharide-based film to inhibit fog or frost formation on surfaces under extreme conditions. The introduction of oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) moieties in the film significantly improves its frost-resistant capability, as these moieties serve as active sites for water molecules to strongly interact in a nonfreezable state.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yi Yao, Ke Zhang, Jiachun Chen, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: The paper presents a method for the visible-light-triggered fabrication of monodispersed gold and silver alloy nanoparticles using dendronized chitosans. The resulting nanocomposites show promising photothermal properties and excellent catalytic activity.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yi Yao, Shijie Cao, Qingcen Yang, Afang Zhang, Wen Li
Summary: This study reports an approach for regulating protein activity using oligoethylene glycol-based dendronized chitosan hydrogels. The hydrogels demonstrate remarkable activity protection and controllable protein release capabilities.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Jiaxing Zhang, Yi Yao, Yangwen Zhang, Di Wu, Wen Li, Andrew K. Whittaker, Afang Zhang
Summary: Polymeric microgels with highly tunable swelling and cooperative interactions have been fabricated through in situ cross-linking polymerization. These thermoresponsive dendronized microgels demonstrate tunable microconfinement and can encapsulate solvatochromic dye molecules.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
An Feng, Shudi Mao, Casey Onggowarsito, Gayathri Naidu, Wen Li, Qiang Fu
Summary: Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a promising solution for the water crisis in arid or semiarid regions. A bioinspired composite (BiC) was developed by mimicking the asymmetric structure of tillandsia leaves, which effectively draws moisture for AWH applications. This innovative material, using nonwoven mask materials, achieves high water adsorption capacity and release ratio without the use of photothermal materials.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tao Tang, Chang Liu, Zeqi Min, Wenjing Cai, Xiacong Zhang, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: Gelatin acrylamide (GelA), formed by acrylamidation of gelatin, exhibits faster photopolymerization kinetics, better gelation, steady viscosity at elevated temperatures, and satisfying biocompatibility compared to gelatin methacrylamide (GelMA). Microgels of uniform sizes from GelA were obtained using an online photopolymerization strategy, and they showed enhanced cross-linking degree and better shape stability when swollen in water compared to GelMA microgels. Hydrogels from GelA and their corresponding microgels exhibited superior properties in terms of cell toxicity and encapsulation compared to those from GelMA. GelA thus has potential for constructing scaffolds for bioapplications and can be an excellent substitute for GelMA.
ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liangxuan Ren, Xueting Lu, Wen Li, Jiatao Yan, Andrew K. Whittaker, Afang Zhang
Summary: Dynamic helical conformations of polymers can be stabilized through intramolecular cross-linking, which is important for applications in chiral recognition or chiral separations.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yi Yao, Ting Liu, Jingjie Song, Wen Li
Summary: A new type of smart dendronized hyperbranched polymer (DHPs) is synthesized by modifying hyperbranched polyethyleneimines with oligoethylene glycol (OEG)-based dendrons. These DHPs inherit the characteristic thermoresponsive behavior from OEG dendrons and exhibit thermally-controlled encapsulation and release of guest molecules. They can also be used as nanoreactors for efficient fabrication of metal nanoparticles.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianan Zhang, Xueting Lu, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: This study reports the supramolecular chiral assembly of amphiphilic dendronized tetraphenylethylenes in aqueous solutions. The supramolecular aggregates exhibited thermoresponsive behavior and aggregation-induced fluorescent emission, which could be reversibly tuned by temperature and pH conditions.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yi Yao, Xiaoxin Shi, Zihong Zhao, Afang Zhang, Wen Li
Summary: Convenient chemical modification of biomacromolecules with dendritic oligoethylene glycols enables the preparation of functional materials with thermoresponsive behavior. These materials possess efficient cooperative interactions and confined microenvironments, allowing for the regulation of the behavior and functions of encapsulated molecules or moieties.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shanbin Qi, Xueting Lu, Wenli Mei, Guanglei Gu, Wen Li, Afang Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the supramolecular assembly of dendronized spiropyrans (DSPs) and the reversible tuning of their amphiphilicity through external stimuli. These dendronized amphiphiles form supramolecular nanospheres in water and exhibit remarkable induced chirality. The assembly can be tuned by photoisomerization and thermal collapse of the dendritic oligoethylene glycols (OEGs).
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jindiao Wu, Jianan Zhang, Yanjun Liu, Jun Wang, Cheng Zhang, Jiatao Yan, Wen Li, Toshio Masuda, Andrew K. Whittaker, Afang Zhang
Summary: Molecules with C-3 symmetry can self-assemble into supramolecular fibers with enhanced chirality, and the integration of conjugation provides strong aggregation tendency, leading to the formation of supramolecular fibrous bundles.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Izabela Stupka, Artur P. Biela, Bernard Piette, Agnieszka Kowalczyk, Karolina Majsterkiewicz, Kinga Borzecka-Solarz, Antonina Naskalska, Jonathan G. Heddle
Summary: Artificial protein cages, such as TRAP-cages, have potential applications in vaccines and drug delivery. TRAP-cages have the ability to control the disassembly conditions by modifying the interface between their building blocks. By using TRAP rings with different numbers of monomers, it is possible to predict the formation of other cages.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Guo Zhang, Yu Wang, Hua Qiu, Lei Lu
Summary: This study presents a one-pot synthesis method for flower-like AMPs@EAMP particles by combining antimicrobial peptides with ellagic acid, offering enlarged surface area, excellent biocompatibility, and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. In vivo studies indicate their potential for tissue repair and immune barrier reconstruction.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Jiamei Zhang, Lingshuang Wang, Cheng Xu, Yingui Cao, Shengsheng Liu, Rui L. Reis, Subhas C. Kundu, Xiao Yang, Bo Xiao, Lian Duan
Summary: Pluronic F127 modified silk fibroin film with different types of antibacterial agents could accelerate wound recovery by promoting fibroblast adhesion, eradicating bacteria, and facilitating angiogenesis and re-epithelialization.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Yinsheng Liu, Mingyue Wang, Yinfei Hui, Lei Sun, Yanrui Hao, Henlong Ren, Hao Guo, Wu Yang
Summary: In this study, a rare-earth hybrid luminescent material was developed for the detection of a biomarker for anthrax. The material showed excellent selectivity and high sensitivity, allowing for the determination of the biomarker in saliva and urine. Additionally, a convenient point-of-care testing method using fluorescent test paper and a smartphone was established for the initial diagnosis of anthrax.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Wenshuai Yang, Jingsi Chen, Ziqian Zhao, Meng Wu, Lu Gong, Yimei Sun, Charley Huang, Bin Yan, Hongbo Zeng
Summary: Injectable hydrogels with shear-thinning and/or in situ formation properties offer distinct advantages in bioengineering applications, as they can be directly delivered to target sites, possess self-healing abilities, and simplify the implantation process.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2024)
