Smart Magnetic and Fluorogenic Photosensitizer Nanoassemblies Enable Redox-Driven Disassembly for Photodynamic Therapy

Stimuli-responsive smart photosensitizer (PS) nanoassemblies that allow enhanced delivery and controlled release of PSs are promising for imaging-guided photodynamic therapy (PDT) of tumors. However, the lack of high-sensitivity and spatial-resolution signals and fast washout of released PSs from tumor tissues have impeded PDT efficacy in vivo. Herein, we report tumor targeting, redox-responsive magnetic and fluorogenic PS nanoassemblies ( NP-RGD ) synthesized via self-assembly of a cRGD- and disulfide-containing fluorogenic and paramagnetic small molecule ( 1-RGD ) for fluorescence/magnetic resonance bimodal imaging-guided tumor PDT. NP-RGD show high r₁ relaxivity but quenched fluorescence and PDT activity; disulfide reduction by glutathione (GSH) promotes efficient disassembly into a small-molecule probe ( 2-RGD ) and an organic PS (PPa-SH), which could further bind with intracellular albumin, allowing prolonged retention and cascade activation of fluorescence and PDT to ablate tumors.     

A novel signal-on fluorescent aptasensor for ochratoxin A detection based on RecJf exonuclease-induced signal amplification

This article describes a simple and homogeneous fluorescent aptasensor for the detection of ochratoxin A (OTA). With its high specificity and simplicity; RecJ_f exonuclease is used to cleave DNA strand of the FAM-aptamer/OTA complex and realize target recycling signal amplification. In order to avoid the loss of reaction system, magnetic beads (MBs) are added only once at the last experimental step. This proposed fluorescent aptasensor showed the higher sensitivity in the range of 0.1–100 ng/mL with LOD of 0.056 ng/mL, and the good selectivity against other interfering toxins. The feasibility of the prepared aptasensor was studied by detecting OTA in spiked liquor and cereal samples. The obtained average recoveries ranged from 92% to 115%. This study provides a promising application with convenience and rapidness in the aptasensor fabrication for food safety analysis.     

A ratiometric fluorescent probe with high sensitivity and selectivity for phosgene sensing in solution and gas

Phosgene has attracted wide attention because of its important applications and value in modern industry, agriculture, and other fields, though it easily leaks and is difficult to detect. In this work, we designed and synthesized a naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe, which is easy to prepare, stable, and able to discriminate between phosgene, acetyl chloride, oxalyl chloride, thionyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride, and tosyl chloride. Our results indicate that the probe can react with phosgene selectively and sensitively, showing remarkable ratiometric fluorescence changes. Furthermore, the probe can be made into test strips, which can determine phosgene in air effectively. The present work provides a novel class of naphthalimide-based derivatives with potential application in phosgene sensing in real time simply and safely with further optimization.     

An Activatable Polymeric Reporter for Near-Infrared Fluorescent and Photoacoustic Imaging of Invasive Cancer

Discriminative detection of invasive and noninvasive breast cancers is crucial for their effective treatment and prognosis. However, activatable probes able to do so in vivo are rare. Herein, we report an activatable polymeric reporter (P-Dex) that specifically turns on near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent and photoacoustic (PA) signals in response to the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) overexpressed in invasive breast cancer. P-Dex has a renal-clearable dextran backbone that is linked with a NIR dye caged with an uPA-cleavable peptide substrate. Such a molecular design allows P-Dex to passively target tumors, activate NIR fluorescence and PA signals to effectively distinguish invasive MDA-MB-231 breast cancer from noninvasive MCF-7 breast cancer, and ultimately undergo renal clearance to minimize the toxicity potential. Thus, this polymeric reporter holds great promise for the early detection of malignant breast cancer.     

功能高分子材料综合实验设计:荧光稀土液晶高分子防伪膜的制备

设计了一个综合性实验,将荧光稀土液晶高分子防伪膜的制备和现代分析测试技术应用于高分子专业的教学实验中,以提高学生的综合实践能力。实验包括荧光稀土液晶高分子的制备、表征、防伪性能评价3大部分。采用FTIR、荧光光谱仪、POM、XRD、TG表征荧光稀土液晶高分子的结构与性能;制备荧光稀土液晶高分子防伪膜对其防伪性能进行评价,给整个实验增添趣味性与实用性。通过开设该实验,可让学生了解功能高分子的前沿知识及现代分析测试技术的基本原理和用途,掌握专业的实验操作与数据处理方法,提高学生的综合实践能力和专业素质。学生实验证明该综合实验适用于本科实验教学。     

敏化型电致发光器件原理与技术

近年来,高性能荧光有机电致发光器件(FOLEDs)的开发受到了广泛关注。由于荧光材料仅能利用25%的单重态激子辐射发光,FOLEDs的外量子效率(EQE)理论极限为5%。通过能量转移,充分利用主体分子的单重态与三重态激子敏化荧光客体发光,可以提高激子利用率。目前敏化型FOLEDs(SFOLEDs)的最高EQE已达26.1%。本文详细介绍了SFOLEDs的敏化原理和机制,并根据敏化机制的不同,系统地总结了热活化延迟荧光敏化、激基复合物敏化、三重态湮灭敏化和局域电荷转移杂化激发态(HLCT)敏化等各类SFOLEDs的材料与器件结构特点及其研究进展。最后本综述对该类器件的研究前景进行了展望,期待吸引更多专业的研究人员的研究兴趣,进而推动该领域的发展。     

Organic Spherical Nucleic Acids for the Transport of a NIR‐II‐Emitting Dye Across the Blood–Brain Barrier

DNA nanotechnology plays an increasingly important role in the biomedical field; however, its application in the design of organic nanomaterials is underexplored. Herein, we report the use of DNA nanotechnology to transport a NIR‐II‐emitting nanofluorophore across the blood–brain barrier (BBB), facilitating non‐invasive imaging of brain tumors. Specifically, the DNA block copolymer, PS‐b‐DNA, is synthesized through a solid‐phase click reaction. We demonstrate that its self‐assembled structure shows exceptional cluster effects, among which BBB‐crossing is the most notable. Therefore, PS‐b‐DNA is utilized as an amphiphilic matrix to fabricate a NIR‐II nanofluorephore, which is applied in in vivo bioimaging. Accordingly, the NIR‐II fluorescence signal of the DNA‐based nanofluorophore localized at a glioblastoma is 3.8‐fold higher than the NIR‐II fluorescence signal of the PEG‐based counterpart. The notably increased imaging resolution will significantly benefit the further diagnosis and therapy of brain tumors.     

Sterically Shielded Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes for Bioconjugation and High Performance Near‐Infrared Fluorescence Imaging

The near‐infrared window of fluorescent heptamethine cyanine dyes greatly facilitates biological imaging because there is deep penetration of the light and negligible background fluorescence. However, dye instability, aggregation, and poor pharmacokinetics are current drawbacks that limit performance and the scope of possible applications. All these limitations are simultaneously overcome with a new molecular design strategy that produces a charge balanced and sterically shielded fluorochrome. The key design feature is a meso‐aryl group that simultaneously projects two shielding arms directly over each face of a linear heptamethine polyene. Cell and mouse imaging experiments compared a shielded heptamethine cyanine dye (and several peptide and antibody bioconjugates) to benchmark heptamethine dyes and found that the shielded systems possess an unsurpassed combination of photophysical, physiochemical, and biodistribution properties that greatly enhance bioimaging performance.     

In Vivo Imaging of the Tumor‐Associated Enzyme NCEH1 with a Covalent PET Probe

Herein, we report the development of an ¹⁸F‐labeled, activity‐based small‐molecule probe targeting the cancer‐associated serine hydrolase NCEH1. We undertook a focused medicinal chemistry campaign to simultaneously preserve potent and specific NCEH1 labeling in live cells and animals, while permitting facile ¹⁸F radionuclide incorporation required for PET imaging. The resulting molecule, [¹⁸F]JW199, labels active NCEH1 in live cells at nanomolar concentrations and greater than 1000‐fold selectivity relative to other serine hydrolases. [¹⁸F]JW199 displays rapid, NCEH1‐dependent accumulation in mouse tissues. Finally, we demonstrate that [¹⁸F]JW199 labels aggressive cancer tumor cells in vivo, which uncovered localized NCEH1 activity at the leading edge of triple‐negative breast cancer tumors, suggesting roles for NCEH1 in tumor aggressiveness and metastasis.     

Divergent Synthesis of Monosubstituted and Unsymmetrical 3,6‐Disubstituted Tetrazines from Carboxylic Ester Precursors

Since tetrazines are important tools to the field of bioorthogonal chemistry, there is a need for new approaches to synthesize unsymmetrical and 3‐monosubstituted tetrazines. Described here is a general, one‐pot method for converting (3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methyl carboxylic esters into 3‐thiomethyltetrazines. These versatile intermediates were applied to the synthesis of unsymmetrical tetrazines through Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling and in the first catalytic thioether reduction to access monosubstituted tetrazines. This method enables the development of new tetrazine compounds possessing a favorable combination of kinetics, small size, and hydrophilicity. It was applied to a broad range of aliphatic and aromatic ester precursors and to the synthesis of heterocycles including BODIPY fluorophores and biotin. In addition, a series of tetrazine probes for monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) were synthesized and the most reactive one was applied to the labeling of endogenous MAGL in live cells.