Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fangmian Wei, Johannes Karges, Jinchao Shen, Lina Xie, Kai Xiong, Xiting Zhang, Liangnian Ji, Hui Chao
Summary: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a medical technique used for the treatment of cancer that has gained attention for its selectivity and non-invasiveness. However, the hypoxic environment in solid tumors limits its effectiveness. In this study, graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets functionalized with mitochondria-targeting iridium complexes were used to achieve oxygen self-sufficient two-photon PDT, effectively treating hypoxic tumors in a mouse model. This is the first example of using iridium complex functionalized graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for the treatment of hypoxic tumors under clinically relevant two-photon irradiation.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xuzi Cai, Kang-Nan Wang, Wen Ma, Yuanyuan Yang, Gui Chen, Huijiao Fu, Chunhui Cui, Zhiqiang Yu, Xuefeng Wang
Summary: The newly designed Ir-NPs showed high tumor-targeting ability, excellent antitumor effect, and low toxicity, making them a promising candidate for clinical applications in bioimaging and PDT. Additionally, they also demonstrated potential as a two-photon imaging agent for deep tissue bioimaging.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan-Xiang Li, Lei Xu, Shu-Ming Kang, Li Zhou, Na Liu, Zong-Quan Wu
Summary: This study prepared single-handed helical poly(phenyl isocyanide)s bearing pyrene and naphthalene probes, demonstrating interesting self-sorting properties driven by helicity and molecular weight in various states.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shangzhao Yi, Simin Deng, Xiaolu Guo, Congcong Pang, Jinyan Zeng, Shichen Ji, Hong Liang, Xing-Can Shen, Bang-Ping Jiang
Summary: The development of red emissive two-photon carbon dots (TP-CDs) with N doping strategy enables nucleolus-targeted treatment combined with real-time monitoring of dynamic changes in the nucleolus. This system offers specific treatment and monitoring capabilities within organelles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qiuhong Zhang, Meijuan He, Xiaodong Zhang, Hongwei Yu, Jiawei Liu, Yi Guo, Junmin Zhang, Xiangzhong Ren, Han Wang, Yanli Zhao
Summary: This study reports the development of a tumor microenvironment-activable ROS-generating system using a protein-based nanomedicine that undergoes multistage self-assembly. The system offers effective self-protection for normal tissues and achieves tumor-specific therapy, providing a powerful strategy for nanomedicine design and precise cancer treatment.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hongqian Cao, Yanfei Qi, Xibao Gao, Zi Jin Wei, Jiarui Xia, Lei Wang, Hao Wang, Yang Yang, Junbai Li
Summary: The novel peptide nanodrug, consisting of three functional motifs - bis(pyrene), FFVLK and CREKA, is used as a two-photon excited photosensitizer for precise photodynamic therapy (PDT), showing excellent two-photon imaging ability, tumor target effect and high reactive oxygen species productivity to improve treatment precision and efficiency in PDT.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cheng Ouyang, Yongguang Li, Thomas W. Rees, Xinxing Liao, Jianhua Jia, Yu Chen, Xiting Zhang, Liangnian Ji, Hui Chao
Summary: The organoplatinum(II) complex Pt1 can assemble into nanoaggregates via pi-pi stacking and complementary hydrogen bonds, exhibiting ratiometric dual emission in cells with intact membranes and disrupted membranes. The unique characteristics of Pt1 enable its use for tracking cell apoptosis, necrosis, and inflammation in zebrafish.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingling Huang, Jianqin Wan, Honghui Wu, Xiaona Chen, Qiong Bian, Linlin Shi, Xinchi Jiang, Anran Yuan, Jianqing Gao, Hangxiang Wang
Summary: The study introduces a facile and versatile strategy to construct self-assembling prodrug cocktail nanoparticles for specific drug activation and cancer chemo-photodynamic therapy. Results from preclinical models show that this nanotherapy can effectively eradicate tumors with substantially low systemic toxicity.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhongwei Xu, Xin Lu, Yuhan Zhu, Chaoya Xiong, Bo Li, Shengli Li, Qiong Zhang, Xiaohe Tian, Dandan Li, Yupeng Tian
Summary: In this study, a novel two-photon active Ruthenium(II) complex was designed, which exhibited enhanced two-photon activity and prolonged excitation wavelength through the coordination of Ru ion. It showed excellent photosensitivity under near-infrared light excitation, providing a potential platform for photodynamic therapy.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sichao Tian, Jiangling He, Da Lyu, Shuang Li, Qing-Hua Xu
Summary: Metal nanoparticle conjugates with aggregated induced emission show enhanced therapeutic effects for cancer treatment, making them attractive multifunctional agents.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Guidong Gong, Jiezhou Pan, Yunxiang He, Jiaojiao Shang, Xiaoling Wang, Yaoyao Zhang, Guolin Zhang, Fei Wang, Gang Zhao, Junling Guo
Summary: In this study, a self-assembled nanomicelle with rationally designed building blocks is described, which shows a high efficiency of synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy in an animal model. The nanomicelle possesses a low hemolysis rate, prolonged blood circulation time, and significantly improved antitumor efficacy.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jinlei Peng, Ke Du, Jian Sun, Xianli Yang, Xia Wang, Xiaoran Zhang, Gang Song, Fude Feng
Summary: In this study, TAF was found to act as an organic photosensitizer and an efficient photocatalytic H-center dot generator for tumor therapy. TAF exhibited excellent biosafety with high photocytotoxicity on both normoxic and hypoxic cells at low doses. The results suggest that H-center dot therapy holds promise for overcoming tumor hypoxia challenge at low doses of both photocatalyst and light, and the capability of near-infrared two-photon excitation would benefit broad biological applications.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shu-ping Wang, Xuechun Huang, Yunhong He, Haotian Zhang, Jun Zhou, Guping Tang, Shijun Li, Hongzhen Bai
Summary: The development of intelligent nano-platforms with high tumor-targeting capability, enhanced solubility, and efficacious photochemotherapy is urgently demanded for clinical anticancer treatments. In this study, an amphiphilic porphyrin (P) was used to complex with camptothecin (CPT) to form supra-amphiphile-assembled nanoparticles (CPT@P). The resulting CPT@PM, with cancer cell membrane (M) camouflage, showed excellent stability, homologous targeting ability, and specific co-delivering of the chemotherapeutic drug and photosensitizer to tumor cells. This research provides a promising nanoplatform for cancer therapy by utilizing the unique structure and intrinsic performance of porphyrin photosensitizers and membrane-coating technology.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Nilanjon Naskar, Weina Liu, Haoyuan Qi, Anne Stumper, Stephan Fischer, Thomas Diemant, R. Jurgen Behm, Ute Kaiser, Sven Rau, Tanja Weil, Sabyasachi Chakrabortty
Summary: Near-infrared (NIR) light-activated photosensitization is a promising therapeutic method for deep tissue penetration in photodynamic therapy. This study proposes a new approach using plasma protein serum albumin (HSA) and NIR two-photon excitable carbon nanodots (Cdots) to enhance singlet oxygen formation within the mitochondria of cancer cells. The combination of HSA-Ru-Cdots offers several attractive features for subcellular targeting, and the destruction of mitochondrial structures in cancer cells is observed. This research has the potential to become a new strategy in phototherapy.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wenyao Duan, Bo Li, Wen Zhang, Jiaqi Li, Xin Yao, Yupeng Tian, Jun Zheng, Dandan Li
Summary: This study presents a new approach for designing oxygenation nanomaterials to relieve tumor hypoxia and enhance cancer treatment through oxygen-generating strategy. The combination of photodynamic therapy and sonodynamic therapy, along with the conversion of H2O2 into O-2, resulted in improved therapeutic outcome. In addition, the nanomaterial showed two-photon activity and cancer cell specific targeting capability, enabling deeper tissue penetration and precise guidance for cancer therapy.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tonghui Wang, Jinbo Fei, Zhenzhen Dong, Xia Xu, Weiguang Dong, Junbai Li
Summary: In this study, a synthetic electrozyme was coupled with a supramolecule-assembled nanoarchitecture to mimic mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and achieve enhanced bioenergy transformation. The metal-free electrozyme, a semiconducting polymer deposited on an electrode, exhibited a well-matched electrocatalytic property that allowed the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to release protons at a much lower electric potential. As a result, a proton gradient was generated and drove the rotary catalysis of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthase in a lipid membrane, resulting in the production of ATP. Significantly, the electrochemical bioenergy conversion of NADH to ATP in this bio-like system was much more efficient compared to natural mitochondria. This work integrates synthetic and natural catalytic chemistry, facilitating enhanced bioenergy transformation and greatly improving prospects in ATP-fueled bioapplications.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Jinbo Fei, Junbai Li
Summary: Molecular assembly is a promising strategy for constructing active systems using biomolecules as building blocks. These assembled systems simulate or regulate important biological activities and have great potential in various bioapplications. This review focuses on recent progress in ATP-involved active self-assembled systems, which are constructed with hierarchical structures and generate ATP using external influences to create proton gradients. Additionally, active supermolecular systems driven by ATP as chemical fuel are highlighted. Finally, key challenges and future research perspectives are discussed.
CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xianbao Li, Qi Li, Aoli Wu, Junbai Li
Summary: Symmetry of layered dipeptide crystals can be broken by utilizing CO2, which induces adjacent monomolecular layers to stack in the same direction. CO2 covers the interlayer interaction sites, forcing the dipeptides to adsorb asymmetrically. The dipeptide crystals exhibit enhanced piezoelectricity and the piezoelectric voltage generated from dipeptide-based generators is increased by more than 500% after symmetry breaking. This work provides a potential route to engineer structures and properties of layered materials, and offers insights into the control of non-covalent interactions.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aoli Wu, Yongxian Guo, Xianbao Li, Qi Li, Guixin Chen, Hengchang Zang, Junbai Li
Summary: The development of peptide-based supramolecular materials with hierarchical morphology and tunable guest loading shows great potential as a drug carrier due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, a facile Schiff base nanoarchitectonic was reported for the supramolecular assembly of diphenylalanine (FF) metastable gel. The competitive assembly between FF-H2O and FF-GA oligomer resulted in the formation of FF nanoparticles and hierarchical beaded nanofibers. These assembled particles can easily load various guest molecules and release them under weak alkaline conditions, demonstrating their potential application as drug carriers.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yamei Liu, Ruirui Xing, Junbai Li, Xuehai Yan
Summary: Covalently triggered peptide self-assembly has been developed for cancer theranostics, providing enhanced stability and functionality compared to noncovalent interactions. The review summarizes the design principles for constructing various peptide-based assemblies and discusses representative covalently assembled peptide-based nanodrugs, along with their challenges and potential in clinical applications for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. This review offers new insights into the construction of peptide-based nanodrugs through covalent reaction and noncovalent self-assembly.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Sun, Yi Jia, Shiwei Bai, Qi Li, Luru Dai, Junbai Li
Summary: Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) technology has revolutionized the field of cell biology by breaking the diffraction limit, enabling researchers to visualize cellular structures with nanometric resolution, multiple colors, and single-molecule sensitivity. SRM has also extended its impact to other fields such as nanomedicine, material science, and nanotechnology, greatly contributing to breakthroughs in these areas.
ADVANCES IN COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xin Li, Honglei Jian, Qingquan Han, Anhe Wang, Jieling Li, Ningyuan Man, Qi Li, Shuo Bai, Junbai Li
Summary: Short peptide self-assembled hydrogels have excellent biocompatibility and functional expansion, making them promising in cell culture and tissue engineering. However, the preparation of bio-inks with adjustable mechanical strength and controlled degradation for 3D bioprinting is challenging.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhenzhen Dong, Jinbo Fei, Tonghui Wang, Junbai Li
Summary: A strategy of matched spectral and temporal light management is developed to improve photosynthetic efficiency by co-assembling natural thylakoid membrane (TM) with artificial long afterglow particle (LAP). LAP with excellent stability and biocompatibility is optically-matched with the absorption of TM, serving as an additional light source for photosynthesis. Enhanced photosynthesis is achieved after co-assembly, with boosted electron transfer, oxygen yield, and ATP production due to down-conversion fluorescence emission from LAP. This proof-of-concept work opens a new route to augment the photosynthetic efficiency of green plants by utilizing precise light-managed materials.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yilin Liu, Junbai Li
Summary: This study reports, for the first time, that Celastrol can self-assemble into size-controllable nanoparticles via the anti-solvent method using different solvents or varying Celastrol concentrations. In vitro experiments showed that the prepared nanoparticles can effectively kill MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the nanoparticles can accumulate efficiently in tumors after intravenous injection. Administration of a lethal dosage of Celastrol resulted in significant tumor suppression with maintained activity in mice. These findings suggest that the anti-solvent method holds promise for fabricating Celastrol nano-drugs with controlled size and reduced systemic toxicity for clinical cancer treatment.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jie Zhao, Xia Xu, Yang Yang, Junbai Li
Summary: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an efficient method for cancer treatment, but traditional photosensitizers (PSs) often have low bioavailability. This review discusses the use of molecular-assembly technique, adjusting the PS triplet state lifetime, and developing aggregation-induced emission (AIE) agents to improve the efficacy of PDT.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yilin Liu, Jie Zhao, Xia Xu, Yang Xu, Wei Cui, Yang Yang, Junbai Li
Summary: The natural anthraquinone derivative emodin (Emo) is demonstrated to be a promising photosensitizer for two-photon-excited photodynamic therapy with a large two-photon absorption cross-section and high singlet oxygen quantum yield. The co-assembled Emo/HSA nanoparticles exhibit outstanding TPE-PDT properties against cancer cells. This work is beneficial for the use of natural extracts for high-efficiency TPE-PDT.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zibo Li, Fanchen Yu, Xia Xu, Tonghui Wang, Jinbo Fei, Jingcheng Hao, Junbai Li
Summary: We demonstrate the realization of photozyme-catalyzed oxidative phosphorylation through the assembly of ATP synthase-reconstituted proteoliposome coatings on microcapsules. This is achieved through layer-by-layer deposition of semiconducting graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets and polyelectrolytes. The encapsulated g-C3N4 nanosheets act as the photozyme, accelerating the oxidation of glucose to yield protons under light illumination, establishing an outward transmembrane proton gradient to drive ATP synthesis. This artificial design enables higher energy conversion efficiency compared to conventional oxidative phosphorylation systems.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Peng Zhou, Ruirui Xing, Qi Li, Junbai Li, Chengqian Yuan, Xuehai Yan
Summary: Controlling the morphology of supramolecular hydrogels is crucial in tuning their mechanical properties. This study investigates the evolution of fibrillar networks in hydrogels by modulating droplets formed via liquid-liquid phase separation. The size and amount of droplets, as well as the structural evolution and network development, can be finely tuned by varying the thermal history. The findings provide insights into the role of phase-separated droplets in self-assembling networks and contribute to the engineering of supramolecular hydrogels with adjustable mechanical properties.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Aoli Wu, Yongxian Guo, Meiqi Li, Qin Li, Hengchang Zang, Junbai Li
Summary: The assembly pathway and chiral transformation behavior of peptides in supramolecular peptide assemblies remain largely unknown. In this study, the assembly of an N-terminal-protected phenylalanine-tyrosine dipeptide is shown to proceed through multistep structural evolution, and the chiral assembly can be controlled by introducing a bipyridine derivative and using ultrasound or enzyme catalysis.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Nan Sun, Yi Jia, Shiwei Bai, Yang Yang, Luru Dai, Junbai Li
Summary: This study demonstrates the direct observation and quantification of protein corona adsorbed onto PEGylated mesoporous silica particles using direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy. The effects of PEG molecular weights and incubation time on protein penetration depth are investigated for the first time.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2024)
