In-chain functionalization through the combination of ring opening copolymerization and oxime “Click” reaction towards X-ray opaque polylactide copolymers

X-ray imaging functionalization of biodegradable polyesters is a great demand and challenge in biomedical applications.In this work,a strategy of in-chain functionalization through the combination of ring opening copolymerization and oxime "Click" postfunctionalization was developed towards X-ray opaque polylactide copolymers.A functionalized cyclic carbonate was first synthesized and used as comonomer of polylactide copolymers,which were subjected to postfunctionalization of oxime "Click" reaction towards iodinated polylactide copolymers.The chemical structure and physical properties of the target products were traced and confirmed.In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation with 3T3-Swiss albino by Alamar blue demonstrated a low cytotoxicity.The X-ray radiopacity was analyzed by Micro-CT and quantified by Hounsfield Units value,which could be tailorable by the feedstock.It is a promising X-ray visible implantable biomaterial in biomedical applications.     

Syntheses and structures of two novel fluorescent metal–organic frameworks generated from a tridentate donor–acceptor motif ligand

The tridentate organic ligand 4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoic acid ( H₃L ) has been synthesized (as the methanol 1.25‐solvate, C₄₈H₃₉NO₆·1.25CH₃OH). As a donor–acceptor motif molecule, H₃L possess strong intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence. Through hydrogen bonds, H₃L molecules construct a two‐dimensional (2D) network, which pack together into three‐dimensional (3D) networks with an ABC stacking pattern in the crystalline state. Based on H₃L and M(NO₃)₂ salts (M = Cd and Zn) under solvothermal conditions, two metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), namely, catena‐poly[[triaquacadmium(II)]‐μ‐10‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐4,4′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6‐diyl)dibenzoato], [Cd(C₄₈H₃₇NO₆)(H₂O)₃]_n, I , and poly[[μ₃‐4,4′,4′′‐(4,4,8,8,12,12‐hexamethyl‐8,12‐dihydro‐4H‐benzo[9,1]quinolizino[3,4,5,6,7‐defg]acridine‐2,6,10‐triyl)tribenzoato](μ₃‐hydroxido)zinc(II)], [Zn₂(C₄₈H₃₆NO₆)(OH)]_n, II , were synthesized. Single‐crystal analysis revealed that both MOFs adopt a 3D structure. In I , partly deprotonated HL ^2? behaves as a bidentate ligand to link a Cd^II ion to form a one‐dimensional chain. In the solid state of I , the existence of weak interactions, such as O—H…O hydrogen bonds and π–π interactions, plays an essential role in aligning 2D nets and 3D networks with AB packing patterns for I . The deprotonated ligand L ^3? in II is utilized as a tridentate building block to bind Zn^II ions to construct 3D networks, where unusual Zn₄O₁₄ clusters act as connection nodes. As a donor–acceptor molecule, H₃L exhibits fluorescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 70% in the solid state. In comparison, the PL of both MOFs is red‐shifted with even higher PLQYs of 79 and 85% for I and II , respectively.     

Oxidative Epigallocatechin Gallate Coating on Polymeric Substrates for Bone Tissue Regeneration

Plant derived flavonoids have not been well explored in tissue engineering applications due to difficulties in efficient formulations with biomaterials for controlled presentation. Here, the authors report that surface coating of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on polymeric substrates including poly (L‐lactic acid) (PLLA) nanofibers can be performed via oxidative polymerization of EGCG in the presence of cations, enabling regulation of biological functions of multiple cell types implicated in bone regeneration. EGCG coating on the PLLA nanofiber promotes osteogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) and is potent to suppress adipogenesis of ADSCs while significantly reduces osteoclastic maturation of murine macrophages. Moreover, EGCG coating serves as a protective layer for ADSCs against oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide. Finally, the in vivo implantation of EGCG‐coated nanofibers into a mouse calvarial defect model significantly promotes the bone regeneration (61.52 ± 28.10%) as compared to defect (17.48 ± 11.07%). Collectively, the results suggest that EGCG coating is a simple bioinspired surface modification of polymeric biomaterials and importantly can thus serve as a promising interface for tuning activities of multiple cell types associated with bone fracture healing.     

Cobalt Based Nanoparticles Embedded Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalyst

Efficient water electrolysis catalyst is highly demanded for the production of hydrogen as a sustainable energy fuel. It is reported that cobalt derived nanoparticle (CoS₂, CoP, CoS|P) decorated reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composite aerogel catalysts for highly active and reliable hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts. 7 nm level cobalt derived nanoparticles are synthesized over graphene aerogel surfaces with excellent surface coverage and maximal expose of active sites. CoS|P/rGO hybrid aerogel composites show an excellent catalytic activity with overpotential of ≈169 mV at a current density of ≈10 mA cm^?2. Accordingly, efficient charge transfer is attained with Tafel slope of ≈52 mV dec^?1 and a charge transfer resistance (R_ct) of ≈12 Ω. This work suggests a viable route toward ultrasmall, uniform nanoparticles decorated graphene surfaces with well‐controlled chemical compositions, which can be generally useful for various applications commonly requiring large exposure of active surface area as well as robust interparticle charger transfer.     

Design of diamond-shape photonic crystal fiber polarization filter based on surface plasma resonance effect

A novel plasmonic polarization filter based on the diamond-shape photonic crystal fiber(PCF) is proposed. The resonant coupling characteristics of the PCF polarization filter are investigated by the full-vector finite-element method. By optimizing the geometric parameters of the PCF, when the fiber length is 5 mm, the polarization filter has a bandwidth of 990 nm and an extinction ratio(ER) of lower than -20 dB. Moreover, a single wavelength polarization filter can also be achieved, along with an ER of -279.78 dB at wavelength 1.55 μm. It is believed that the proposed PCF polarization filter will be very useful in laser and optical communication systems.     

Review on the Properties of Boron-Doped Diamond and One-Dimensional-Metal-Oxide Based P-N Heterojunction

This review is mainly focused on the optoelectronic properties of diamond-based one-dimensional-metal-oxide heterojunction. First, we briefly introduce the research progress on one-dimensional (1D)-metal-oxide heterojunctions and the features of the p-type boron-doped diamond (BDD) film; then, we discuss the use of three oxide types (ZnO, TiO₂ and WO₃) in diamond-based-1D-metal-oxide heterojunctions, including fabrication, epitaxial growth, photocatalytic properties, electrical transport behavior and negative differential resistance behavior, especially at higher temperatures. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future trends in this research area. The discussed results of about 10 years’ research on high-performance diamond-based heterojunctions will contribute to the further development of photoelectric nano-devices for high-temperature and high-power applications.     

Hantzsch Ester as a Visible-Light Photoredox Catalyst for Transition-Metal-Free Coupling of Arylhalides and Arylsulfinates

Diethyl 2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate (HEH) has been utilized as a visible-light photoredox catalyst for the cross coupling of arylhalides and arylsulfinates without transition metal, sacrificial agent, and mediator. This method is compatible with various functional groups and provides diaryl sulfones in good to high yields. Mechanistic studies indicate that this reaction undergoes the stepwise light irradiation of HE⁻, single electron transfer (SET) in donor–acceptor complex (DAC) from *HE⁻ to arylhalide, trapping of aryl radical with sulfinate, and SET oxidation of sulfone radical anion by HE^. to sulfone by the DAC method.     

Construction and visible-light photocatalytic performance of carboxyethyltin/transition metal–functionalized wheel-like tungstophosphates

The wheel-like tungstophosphate ([P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]⁴⁰⁻, abbreviated as P₈W₄₈) reacted with estertin trichloride (Cl₃SnRCH₃, R = CH₂CH₂COO) in aqueous solution, resulting in a new wheel-like polyoxometalate (POM) containing six SnR fragments, formulated as K₆Na₂₄[{(SnR(H₂O))₂(μ-OH)(μ-SnR(H₂O))}₂(P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄)]·59H₂O (abbreviated as Sn ₆ - P ₈ W ₄₈ ). Based on this, the transition metal (TM) was further introduced into the Sn ₆ - P ₈ W ₄₈ system, self-assembling three other wheel-like POMs with the general formula K_xNa_yH_{26 − x − y}[{TM(H₂O)₃(SnR(H₂O))₂(μ-OH)(μ-SnR(H₂O))}₂(P₈W₄₈O₁₈₄)]·nH₂O (abbreviated as TM ₂ - Sn ₆ - P ₈ W ₄₈ , TM = Mn, Co, Ni; x = 0, 1, 2; y = 19, 22, 15; n = 72, 85, 75, respectively). The structures of these new organometal and TM co-modified compounds were characterized using infrared, UV–Vis. spectroscopy, ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, and powder- and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The estertin precursor hydrolyzed into carboxyethyltin (SnR) fragment in these crystalline POM materials, which can improve their adhesion to titanium dioxide (TiO₂). The photocatalytic performance of Sn ₆ - P ₈ W ₄₈ , TM ₂ - Sn ₆ - P ₈ W ₄₈ , and their TiO₂ composites was examined by studying the degradation of a model dye pollutant Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible-light irradiation without adding hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the photocatalytic mechanism was also discussed. The experimental results show that the title compounds exhibit a quicker and better photocatalytic degradation effect on RhB compared with their parent compound, indicating that the introduced organotin groups play a significant role. Moreover, it was found that H₂O₂ was produced after illumination pretreatment for POM solution, promoting the photocatalytic reaction.