Hong‐Bo Cheng

Azobenzene is a well-known derivative of stimulus-responsive molecular switches and has shown superior performance as a functional material in biomedical applications. The results of multiple studies have led to the development of light/hypoxia-responsive azobenzene for biomedical use. In recent years, long-wavelength-responsive azobenzene has been developed. Matching the longer wavelength absorption and hypoxia-response characteristics of the azobenzene switch unit to the bio-optical window res

The use of boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) in biomedicine is reviewed. To open, its synthesis and regulatory strategies are summarized, and inspiring cutting-edge work in post-functionalization strategies is highlighted. A brief overview of assembly model of BODIPY is then provided: BODIPY is introduced as a promising building block for the formation of single- and multicomponent self-assembled systems, including nanostructures suitable for aqueous environments, thereby showing the great developme

Diarylethene (DAE) photoswitch is a new and promising family of photochromic molecules and has shown superior performance as a smart trigger in stimulus-responsive materials. During the past few decades, the DAE family has achieved a leap from simple molecules to functional molecules and developed toward validity as a universal switching building block. In recent years, the introduction of DAE into an assembly system has been an attractive strategy that enables the photochromic behavior of the b

Theranostic systems that permit both diagnosis and treatment in vivo are highly appealing means by which to meet the demands of precision medicine. However, most such systems remain subject to issues related to complex molecular design and synthesis, potential toxicity, and possible photoactivity changes. Herein, a novel supramolecular theranostic strategy involving biomarker protein activation (BPA) and a host-guest strategy is proposed. To exemplify BPA, a facile "one-for-all" nanotheranostic

The fact that multidrug resistance (MDR) could induce medical device-related infections, along with the invalidation of traditional antibiotics has become an intractable global medical issue. Therefore, there is a pressing need for innovative strategies of antibacterial functionalization of medical devices. For this purpose, a multimodal antibacterial coating that combines photothermal and photodynamic therapies (PTT/PDT) is developed here based on novel heavy atom-free photosensitizer compound,

Two types of ionic liquids (ILs), 1-(3-hexenyl)-3-methyl imidazolium iodide and 1-(3-butenyl)-3-methyl imidazolium iodide, are synthesized by introducing an unsaturated bond into the side alkyl chain of the imidazolium cation. These new ionic liquids exhibit high thermal stability and low viscosity (104 cP and 80 cP, respectively). The molecular dynamics simulation shows that the double bond introduced in the alkane chain greatly changes the molecular system space arrangement and diminishes the

In the current study, a new nanoparticle platform, NanoAzoPcS, is created by co-assembly of phthalocyanine and azobenzene amphiphiles, which can be used to gain precise control of PDT simply by regulating the stoichiometric ratio of the components and using light irradiation. The results of antibacterial studies show that NanoAzoPcS serves as a smart PS for controlled PDT.

As one of the main components of ionic liquid-based composite electrolytes, nanoparticles play a major role in determining the performance of such electrolytes. In this study, four different TiO2-based nanoparticles are introduced into ionic liquid electrolytes to systematically investigate the influence of their conductivities and surface chemistries on the performance of composite electrolytes. Compared with conventional insulating nanoparticles, high-conductivity nanoparticles are free of blo

Nitric oxide (NO) intervenes, that is, a potential treatment strategy, and has attracted wide attention in the field of tumor therapy. However, the therapeutic effect of NO is still poor, due to its short half-life and instability. Therapeutic concentration ranges of NO should be delivered to the target tissue sites, cell, and even subcellular organelles and to control NO generation. Mitochondria have been considered a major target in cancer therapy for their essential roles in cancer cell metab

Conventional phototherapeutic agents are typically used in either photodynamic therapy (PDT) or photothermal therapy (PTT). However, efficacy is often hindered by hypoxia and elevated levels of heat shock proteins in the tumor microenvironment (TME). To address these limitations, a formylated, near-infrared (NIR)-absorbing and heavy-atom-free Aza-BODIPY dye is presented that exhibits both type-I and type-II PDT actions with a high yield of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and manifests efficient ph