Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qing Dan, Zhen Yuan, Si Zheng, Huanrong Ma, Wanxian Luo, Li Zhang, Ning Su, Dehong Hu, Zonghai Sheng, Yingjia Li
Summary: In this study, gold nanoclusters with NIR-II fluorescence and catalase-like activity were utilized as alternative photosensitizers for highly efficient photodynamic therapy. The bright NIR-II fluorescence and oxygen self-supplied capability of BSA@Au showed great potential for treating cancer and bacterial infections.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tian Wang, Yingying Chen, Bo Wang, Xiaofan Gao, Mingfu Wu
Summary: This review introduces the role of second near-infrared region (NIR-II) fluorescence imaging in cancer diagnosis and summarizes its applications in cancer therapy. With the development of fluorescence imaging systems and fluorescent probes, quick tumor detection, margin definition, and individualized therapy can be achieved, leading to improved accuracy in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lin Tang, Xiaodong Zeng, Hui Zhou, Conghao Gui, Qiulin Luo, Wenyi Zhou, Jing Wu, Qianqian Li, Yang Li, Yuling Xiao
Summary: Ultrasmall gold nanoclusters are promising for biomedical applications in NIR-II imaging and photodynamic therapy due to their photostability and biocompatibility. The combination of protein-capped ultrasmall AuNCs with NIR-II imaging and photodynamic cancer therapy shows feasibility for theranostic applications.
CHEMICAL RESEARCH IN CHINESE UNIVERSITIES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaochen Zhou, Lotta Gustavsson, Gregory Beaune, Sourov Chandra, Jukka Niskanen, Janne Ruokolainen, Jaakko V. I. Timonen, Olli Ikkala, Bo Peng, Robin H. A. Ras
Summary: This work presents a general and efficient method to synthesize pH-responsive near-infrared (NIR) emitting gold nanoclusters by introducing aliphatic tertiary amine (TA) groups as ligands. The pH-responsive NIR emission is achieved through the protonation and deprotonation of TA groups, which induce electronic structure changes. The pH-responsive gold nanoclusters can serve as specific and sensitive probes for lysosomes in cells, offering non-invasive emissions without interference from intracellular autofluorescence.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xianxian Yao, Binru Yang, Chenzi Li, Qianjun He, Wuli Yang
Summary: This study presents a new cancer phototheranostic approach using an NIR-II light-controlled carbon monoxide (CO) nanogenerator. The nanogenerator combines photothermal therapy (PTT) and CO therapy, effectively inhibiting cancer development and providing a new strategy for cancer theranostics.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Youkun Zheng, Yuxin Zhu, Jianghong Dai, Jiaojiao Lei, Jingcan You, Ni Chen, Liqun Wang, Mao Luo, Jianbo Wu
Summary: In this study, atomically precise gold nanoclusters are embedded in natural polysaccharide carrageenan to create a hydrogel platform for single near-infrared light-triggered photothermal and photodynamic antibacterial therapy. The embedded nanoclusters exhibit thermal effects and singlet oxygen generation under near-infrared light, enabling rapid elimination of bacteria. The carrageenan endows the hydrogel with gelation characteristics and wound microenvironment regulation, promoting wound healing. The hydrogel demonstrates excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility, offering an alternative strategy for battling bacterial infections without antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yifei Kong, David Santos-Carballal, David Martin, Natalia N. Sergeeva, Weili Wang, Guishi Liu, Benjamin Johnson, Brijesh Bhayana, Zuantao Lin, Yensheng Wang, Xavier Le Guevel, Nora H. de Leeuw, Dejian Zhou, Mei X. Wu
Summary: Nanomedicine has become structurally complex, leading to challenges in reliability, uniformity, and reproducibility. This study focuses on leveraging gold nanoclusters to design a versatile drug delivery system that enhances drug elimination and tumor targeting. Additionally, the research uncovers the potential of a drug to suppress tumor growth by stimulating reactive oxygen species production using a smartphone torch.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zixuan Li, Qing Pei, Yonghui Zheng, Zhigang Xie, Min Zheng
Summary: This study successfully synthesized fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) with excellent biosafety, stability, dispersibility, and photodynamic activity. The CDs emitted long-lasting near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, enabling high penetration and long-term in vivo luminescent imaging of deep tissues. Moreover, the CDs generated abundant reactive oxygen species, effectively inhibiting tumor growth. This work demonstrates the enormous potential of CDs as multifunctional nanoplatforms for biomedical applications.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hugo A. L. Filipe, Andre F. Moreira, Sonia P. Miguel, Maximiano P. Ribeiro, Paula Coutinho
Summary: Cancer poses a significant global challenge for the next decade, and strategies for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment are promising for combatting this disease. Developing nanomaterials with near-infrared (NIR) light responsiveness, such as heptamethine cyanines, has shown great potential for tumor visualization and generating a photothermal/photodynamic effect. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to understand the interaction between 12 NIR-light responsive probes and lipid membranes, providing valuable insights for selecting suitable molecules and guiding probe modifications to optimize interaction with tumor cell membranes.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zeyang Pang, Weixiao Yan, Jie Yang, Qizhen Li, Yuan Guo, Dejian Zhou, Xingyu Jiang
Summary: Developing effective lymph-node targeting and imaging probes is crucial for the early detection and diagnosis of tumor metastasis. Researchers have developed dualligand-/multiligand-capped gold nanoclusters (GNCs) that can specifically target LN cancer metastasis and provide near-infrared fluorescence imaging, diagnosis, and treatment.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Natanael Fernandes, Carolina F. Rodrigues, Duarte de Melo-Diogo, Ilidio J. Correia, Andre F. Moreira
Summary: A novel and straightforward method was developed to produce gold nanoclusters for cancer therapy, which were able to trigger and control the aggregation of gold nanospheres, showing potential in cancer treatment applications.
Review
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Sa Wang, Chuang Zhang, Fang Fang, Yueyun Fan, Jiani Yang, Jinfeng Zhang
Summary: With the increasing demand for accurate and safe cancer treatment, non-invasive photodynamic therapy (PDT) is gaining attention. This review focuses on recent progress made with near-infrared (NIR) light II region photosensitizers for cancer treatment via PDT. The challenges and prospects of these photosensitizers for clinical practice are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
J. Dikec, N. Bechoua, P. Winckler, J. M. Perrier-Cornet
Summary: The study found that bacterial spores and vegetative cells exhibit similar sensitivity to pulsed NIR, with spores being only 2-fold more resistant than their vegetative counterparts. The research helps eliminate certain hypotheses concerning the main driver of spore inactivation processes, suggesting that damage leading to inactivation is mainly caused by photochemical reactions characterized by multiple possible pathways.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Philipp Neidinger, Joshua Davis, Dominik Voll, Esa A. Jaatinen, Sarah L. Walden, Andreas N. Unterreiner, Christopher Barner-Kowollik
Summary: This study introduces a gold nanorod-driven methodology to induce free radical polymerization in water using near infrared light. The process utilizes photothermal conversion and heat transfer to generate radicals, allowing control over the molecular weight and reaction conversion of the polymers. The results demonstrate the potential of this initiation mechanism for inducing polymerization in biological environments.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Liang Hong, Jia-Lin Wang, Jun-Xian Geng, Yi-Hua Zhao, Gao-Xin Zhou, Jia Zhang, Li-Wei Liu, Jun-Le Qu
Summary: The novel nanoplatform IR780-P/VV NE developed in this study improves the water solubility and stability of IR780, enhances the efficiency of near-infrared light triggered PDT by increasing reactive oxygen species generation, and has the potential to be a universal platform for loading hydrophobic photosensitizers and improving therapeutic efficacy. The developed nanoemulsions show promising potential for mitigating tumor hypoxia and enhancing the efficiency of oxygen-dependent therapies such as PDT, sonodynamic therapy, and radiotherapy.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Fengyun Shen, Danlei Tao, Rui Peng, Yao He, Zhuang Liu, Jiansong Ji, Liangzhu Feng
Summary: Researchers have synthesized a covalent organic polymer with good physiological stability and sonosensitization efficacy through esterification of a water insoluble sonosensitizer with a oxaliplatin prodrug and PEG. This polymer can induce effective immunogenic cancer cell death under ultrasound exposure and also be used for real-time tracking of dyes and radioisotopes in disease tissues, enhancing the treatment outcome of SDT.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huapan Fang, Linfu Chen, Zheng Deng, Yunxuan Gao, Yang Yang, Qian Chen, Zhuang Liu
Summary: We developed an efficient oral protein delivery strategy by using in situ polymerization of zwitterions to encapsulate proteins, enabling them to pass through intestinal barriers and be released in the intestine. This strategy allowed for effective oral delivery of various proteins, including high molecular weight ones, such as antibodies. The oral bioavailabilities of insulin and immunoglobin G (IgG) were significantly improved using this strategy, with no observed toxic effects.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huiqin Gao, Muchao Chen, Yan Liu, Dandan Zhang, Jingjing Shen, Ni Ni, Zhimin Tang, Yahan Ju, Xiaochan Dai, Ai Zhuang, Zhaoyang Wang, Qian Chen, Xianqun Fan, Zhuang Liu, Ping Gu
Summary: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment and severe vision loss worldwide. Current treatments are often unsatisfactory. A new study has developed an injectable antibody-loaded nanofiber hydrogel that can release anti-VEGF to inhibit vascular proliferation and reduce local inflammation, significantly prolonging the effective treatment time of conventional anti-VEGF therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huapan Fang, Yicheng Wu, Linfu Chen, Zhiqin Cao, Zheng Deng, Rui Zhao, Lin Zhang, Yang Yang, Zhuang Liu, Qian Chen
Summary: Obesity can worsen the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and impair CD8(+) T cell-mediated tumor cell killing. Gene therapy using a modified polyethylenimine with p-methylbenzenesulfonyl and hyaluronic acid can effectively upregulate the expression of PHD3 in tumor tissues, improving the infiltration of CD8(+) T cells and enhancing the responsiveness of immune checkpoint antibody-mediated immunotherapy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junyi Liao, Wen Wen, Juanxia Wu, Yaming Zhou, Sabir Hussain, Haowen Hu, Jiawei Li, Adeel Liaqat, Hongwei Zhu, Liying Jiao, Qiang Zheng, Liming Xie
Summary: We have designed an in-memory computing device, MOfeS-FET, based on van der Waals ferroelectric semiconductor (InSe), which integrates memory and logic functions in the same material. It shows long retention time, high on/off ratios, stable cyclic endurance, and is capable of performing inverter, programmable NAND, and NOR Boolean logic operations with nonvolatile storage of the results.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jiahao Du, Mengting Zhou, Qian Chen, Yichao Tao, Jun Ren, Yang Zhang, Huanlong Qin
Summary: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with tunable microstructures and good biocompatibility are used to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) for nanocatalytic therapy. However, the low catalytic activity of MOFs and intracellular ion homeostasis hinder their efficacy in tumor therapy. This study introduces a therapeutic strategy that breaks intracellular iron homeostasis for nanocatalytic therapy and amplifies autophagy to promote ferroptosis.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zechen Li, Meirong Huang, Jing Li, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: Researchers have discovered that high-quality ultrathin 1T-PtSe2 can be synthesized on Au foils using a simple chemical vapor deposition method. The experimental results confirm that these ultrathin 1T-PtSe2 ribbons possess abundant catalytic sites and can serve as ideal electrocatalysts. This study advances the large-scale synthesis and potential application of ultrathin transition metal disulfides and presents a novel method for designing and synthesizing highly active ultrathin catalysts.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dongjun Li, Ang Zhao, Jiafei Zhu, Chunjie Wang, Jingjing Shen, Zixuan Zheng, Feng Pan, Zhuang Liu, Qian Chen, Yang Yang
Summary: By evaluating the sustainability of various components, researchers found that neutral liposomes are suitable for delivering metformin and nintedanib for pulmonary fibrosis treatment. Moreover, repeated noninvasive aerosol inhalation of metformin and nintedanib loaded liposomes can effectively reduce fibrosis development and improve lung function.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Linfu Chen, Rui Zhao, Jingjing Shen, Nanhui Liu, Zixuan Zheng, Yu Miao, Jiafei Zhu, Lin Zhang, Yingyao Wang, Huapan Fang, Jun Zhou, Maoyi Li, Yang Yang, Zhuang Liu, Qian Chen
Summary: This study reveals that Fusobacterium nucleatum can colonize colorectal tumors due to the high affinity between the membrane protein Fap-2 on F. nucleatum and d-galactose-beta (1-3)-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine (Gal-GalNAc) overexpressed on colorectal tumor cells. The colonization of F. nucleatum in colorectal tumors leads to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and reduces the responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Inspired by this, a F. nucleatum-mimetic nanomedicine is designed to selectively eliminate tumor-colonizing F. nucleatum and restore the therapeutic responses of F. nucleatum-colonized tumors to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yutong Ran, Runni Zhao, Chen Meng, Nianze Shang, Shuo Sun, Kaihui Liu, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: This study explores the growth of multilayered SnSe2 nanoplates under non-steady-state conditions, revealing their distinct features and pronounced second harmonic generation. The findings shed light on the growth dynamics of 2D materials and broaden their potential applications in various fields.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Abdelrahman Brakat, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: The role of low-dimensional van der Waals heterointerfaces, particularly those incorporating quasi-2D graphene and quasi-1D nanocellulose derivatives, has attracted significant scientific interest due to their potential in fabricating distinct nanoarchitectures governed by vdW forces. However, the abilities of these nanoscale entities are limited by in-plane covalent bonding and the existence of dangling π-bonds, hindering emergent behavior at heterointerfaces.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muchao Chen, Jiaying Hu, Huiqin Gao, Jingjing Shen, Ting Wei, Jing Yao, Yan Zhang, Ping Gu, Zhuang Liu, Qian Chen
Summary: A therapeutic artificial vitreous body (AVB) hydrogel has been developed to control the recurrence of choroidal melanoma and preserve vision after vitrectomy. The AVB can sequentially release drugs to achieve a synergistic anti-tumor effect while maintaining the normal structure and visual function of the eye.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Liangzheng Dong, Shengye Tao, Ming Zhao, Daming Zhuang, Yafei Wang, Hanpeng Wang, Mengyao Jia, Junsu Han, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: Alkali metal doping in Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)(4) (CZTSSe) thin film solar cells has been found to promote the crystallization process and improve the electrical properties of the grain boundaries and heterojunction band alignments. The K-doped CZTSSe solar cells exhibit better device performance and fewer defects.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Meirong Huang, Sutong Wang, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive machine learning process was introduced to guide the selection of cocatalysts for BiVO4 photoanodes. The models trained using neural network and ensemble techniques were able to capture intricate relationships among photoanodes, cocatalysts, and electrolytes, and accurately predict unstudied cases. The feature importance analysis revealed that the type and preparation method of cocatalysts were the most significant factors affecting the catalytic system's performance. The interpretability of the models provided heuristic rules for selecting promising cocatalysts for BiVO4 photoanodes.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY A
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yujia Zhong, Haoyu Fang, Yutong Ran, Hongwei Zhu
Summary: This study investigates the application of the 2D position-sensitive PTE effect based on the photothermoelectric effect in constructing a self-powered flexible optical writing device. The optically written characters are recognized with high accuracy and fast processing speed using a deep convolutional neural network, indicating its significant application potential.