Engineering Flexible Metal-Phenolic Networks with Guest Responsiveness via Intermolecular Interactions

Flexible metal-organic materials are of growing interest owing to their ability to undergo reversible structural transformations under external stimuli. Here, we report flexible metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) featuring stimuli-responsive behavior to diverse solute guests. The competitive coordination of metal ions to phenolic ligands of multiple coordination sites and solute guests (e.g., glucose) primarily determines the responsive behavior of the MPNs, as revealed experimentally and computationally. Glucose molecules can be embedded into the dynamic MPNs upon mixing, leading to the reconfiguration of the metal-organic networks and thus changes in their physicochemical properties for targeting applications. This study expands the library of stimuli-responsive flexible metal-organic materials and the understanding of intermolecular interactions between metal-organic materials and solute guests, which is essential for the rational design of responsive materials for various applications.     

The Peptide Functionalized Inorganic Nanoparticles for Cancer-Related Bioanalytical and Biomedical Applications

In order to improve their bioapplications, inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) are usually functionalized with specific biomolecules. Peptides with short amino acid sequences have attracted great attention in the NP functionalization since they are easy to be synthesized on a large scale by the automatic synthesizer and can integrate various functionalities including specific biorecognition and therapeutic function into one sequence. Conjugation of peptides with NPs can generate novel theranostic/drug delivery nanosystems with active tumor targeting ability and efficient nanosensing platforms for sensitive detection of various analytes, such as heavy metallic ions and biomarkers. Massive studies demonstrate that applications of the peptide–NP bioconjugates can help to achieve the precise diagnosis and therapy of diseases. In particular, the peptide–NP bioconjugates show tremendous potential for development of effective anti-tumor nanomedicines. This review provides an overview of the effects of properties of peptide functionalized NPs on precise diagnostics and therapy of cancers through summarizing the recent publications on the applications of peptide–NP bioconjugates for biomarkers (antigens and enzymes) and carcinogens (e.g., heavy metallic ions) detection, drug delivery, and imaging-guided therapy. The current challenges and future prospects of the subject are also discussed.     

Protein–Metal-Ion Networks: A Unique Approach toward Metal Sulfide Nanoparticles Embedded In Situ in Nanocomposites

Nanoscale metal sulfides are of tremendous potential in biomedicine. Generally, the properties and performances of metal sulfide nanoparticles (NPs) are highly related to their structures, sizes and morphologies. Recently, a strategy of using sulfur-containing protein–metal-ion networks for preparing metal sulfide embedded nanocomposites was proposed. Within the networks, proteins can play multiple roles to drive the transformation of these networks into protein-encapsulated metal sulfide NPs with ultrasmall size and defined structure (as both a template and a sulfur provider) or metal sulfide NP–protein hydrogels with injecting and self-healing properties (as a template, a sulfur provider, and a gelator) in a controlled manner. In this Concept, the synthesis strategy, the formation mechanism, and the biomedical applications of the gained nanocomposites are presented. Moreover, the challenges and opportunities of using protein–metal ion networks to construct functional materials for biomedical applications are analyzed.     

Polyphenol‐Mediated Assembly of Proteins for Engineering Functional Materials

Functional materials composed of proteins have attracted much interest owing to the inherent and diverse functionality of proteins. However, establishing general techniques for assembling proteins into nanomaterials is challenging owing to the complex physicochemical nature and potential denaturation of proteins. Here, a simple, versatile strategy is introduced to fabricate functional protein assemblies through the interfacial assembly of proteins and polyphenols (e.g., tannic acid) on various substrates (organic, inorganic, and biological). The dominant interactions (hydrogen‐bonding, hydrophobic, and ionic) between the proteins and tannic acid were elucidated; most proteins undergo multiple noncovalent stabilizing interactions with polyphenols, which can be used to engineer responsiveness into the assemblies. The proteins retain their structure and function within the assemblies, thereby enabling their use in various applications (e.g., catalysis, fluorescence imaging, and cell targeting).     

Polyphenol-Mediated Assembly of Proteins for Engineering Functional Materials

Functional materials composed of proteins have attracted much interest owing to the inherent and diverse functionality of proteins. However, establishing general techniques for assembling proteins into nanomaterials is challenging owing to the complex physicochemical nature and potential denaturation of proteins. Here, a simple, versatile strategy is introduced to fabricate functional protein assemblies through the interfacial assembly of proteins and polyphenols (e.g., tannic acid) on various substrates (organic, inorganic, and biological). The dominant interactions (hydrogen-bonding, hydrophobic, and ionic) between the proteins and tannic acid were elucidated; most proteins undergo multiple noncovalent stabilizing interactions with polyphenols, which can be used to engineer responsiveness into the assemblies. The proteins retain their structure and function within the assemblies, thereby enabling their use in various applications (e.g., catalysis, fluorescence imaging, and cell targeting).     

Self‐Assembly of Amphiphilic Block Copolymer‐Tethered Nanoparticles: a New Approach to Nanoscale Design of Functional Materials

Colloidal molecules constructed from polymers and nanoparticles (NPs) have recently emerged as a novel class of building blocks for assembling functional hybrid materials. Particularly, self‐assembly of amphiphilic block copolymer (BCP)‐tethered NPs (BNPs) has shown great promise in the nanoscale design of functional hybrid materials. On the one hand, structurally the BNPs can be considered as molecular equivalents that are capable of self‐assembly at multiple hierarchical levels. On the other hand, the assembly of BNPs shows significant differences from molecular assembly due to their large dimension, complex geometry, and multi‐scale interactions involved in the assembly process. The manipulation of BCPs localized near the surface of the NPs offers an effective tool for engineering the interactions between NPs and hence the complexity of NP assembly. In this Feature Article, recent progresses on the self‐assembly of BNPs into functional materials are summarized. First, major strategies for assembling amphiphilic BNPs are highlighted. Secondly, the application of hybrid nanostructures (e.g., vesicles) assembled from BNPs in the field of biomedical imaging and delivery is discussed. Finally, current challenges and perspectives at this frontier are outlined.

     

Metal-mediated reactivity in the organic solid state: from self-assembled complexes to metal-organic frameworks

The purpose of this tutorial review is to address the use of metal ions to mediate reactions in the organic solid state. We describe metal complexes and coordination networks that facilitate dimerizations, oligomerizations and polymerizations of olefins and acetylenes via irradiation (e.g. ultraviolet (UV) and (60)Co gamma-rays) and thermal annealing. We show how metal ions can be utilized to direct the formation of polymers and molecules. We also describe how supramolecular chemistry has recently influenced dimerization processes in self-assembled metal-organic solids.     

Reference materials for measuring the size of nanoparticles

This article discusses the requirements for reference materials (RMs) for measuring the size of nanoparticles (NPs). Such RMs can be used for instrument calibration, statistical quality control or interlaboratory comparisons. They can come in the form of suspensions, powders or matrix-embedded materials [i.e. NPs integrated in a natural matrix (e.g., food, soil, or sludge)].At present, uncertainty about the most suitable form of material, the most relevant measurands and the most useful metrological-traceability statement inhibits the production of NP RMs. In addition, the lack of validated methods and qualified laboratories to produce NP RMs present formidable challenges.Metal, inorganic and organic NPs are available, but most of them are intended to be laboratory chemicals. With the exception of latex materials, certified RMs are not available, although some metrology institutes have started to develop such materials for colloidal gold and silica particles.     

Reversible Self‐Assembly of Terpyridine‐Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Energy Conversion

Terpyridine‐functionalized graphene oxides were prepared for self‐assembly into 3D architectures with various metal ions (e.g., Fe, Ru). The resulting electrode materials showed significantly improved electroactivities for efficient energy conversion and storage. They showed promise for application in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), photocurrent generation, and supercapacitance.     

Solvent‐Free Self‐Assembly for Scalable Preparation of Highly Crystalline Mesoporous Metal Oxides

Mesoporous metal oxides (MMOs) have been demonstrated great potential in various applications. Up to now, the direct synthesis of MMOs is still limited to the solvent induced inorganic‐organic self‐assembly process. Here, we develop a facile, general, and high throughput solvent‐free self‐assembly strategy to synthesize a series of MMOs including single‐component MMOs and multi‐component MMOs (e.g., doped MMOs, composite MMOs, and polymetallic oxide) with high crystallinity and remarkable porous properties by grinding and heating raw materials. Compared with the traditional solution self‐assembly process, the avoidance of solvents in this method not only greatly increases the yield of target products and synthesis efficiency, but also reduces the environmental pollution and the consumption of cost and energy. We believe the presented approach will pave a new avenue for scalable production of advanced mesoporous materials for various applications.     

Oxidation‐Mediated Kinetic Strategies for Engineering Metal–Phenolic Networks

The tunable growth of metal–organic materials has implications for engineering particles and surfaces for diverse applications. Specifically, controlling the self‐assembly of metal–phenolic networks (MPNs), an emerging class of metal–organic materials, is challenging, as previous studies suggest that growth often terminates through kinetic trapping. Herein, kinetic strategies were used to temporally and spatially control MPN growth by promoting self‐correction of the coordinating building blocks through oxidation‐mediated MPN assembly. The formation and growth mechanisms were investigated and used to engineer films with microporous structures and continuous gradients. Moreover, reactive oxygen species generated by ultrasonication expedite oxidation and result in faster (ca. 30 times) film growth than that achieved by other MPN assembly methods. This study expands our understanding of metal–phenolic chemistry towards engineering metal–phenolic materials for various applications.     

Polymeric Nanoparticles Amenable to Simultaneous Installation of Exterior Targeting and Interior Therapeutic Proteins

Effective delivery of therapeutic proteins is a formidable challenge. Herein, using a unique polymer family with a wide‐ranging set of cationic and hydrophobic features, we developed a novel nanoparticle (NP) platform capable of installing protein ligands on the particle surface and simultaneously carrying therapeutic proteins inside by a self‐assembly procedure. The loaded therapeutic proteins (e.g., insulin) within the NPs exhibited sustained and tunable release, while the surface‐coated protein ligands (e.g., transferrin) were demonstrated to alter the NP cellular behaviors. In vivo results revealed that the transferrin‐coated NPs can effectively be transported across the intestinal epithelium for oral insulin delivery, leading to a notable hypoglycemic response.     

Progress on phthalocyanine-conjugated Ag and Au nanoparticles: Synthesis,characterization, and photo-physicochemical properties

Phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes are an important class of dyes with numerous (e.g., biological, photophysical, and analytical) applications. Among the methods used to improve the properties of these complexes, one should mention the introduction of different substituents, variation of the central metal ion, ligand exchange, and conjugation to nanomaterials (e.g., carbon-based nanomaterials and metal nanoparticles (NPs)). This work briefly reviews Pc complex conjugation to Ag and Au NPs, highlights the different NP shapes, and discusses the diversity of conjugation approaches. Moreover, the use of UV–Vis spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to characterize Pc-NP hybrids is summarized. The effect of conjugation on Pc photo-physicochemical properties (fluorescence, singlet oxygen generation, triplet state formation, and optical limiting behavior) is discussed, and future perspectives for the synthesis and applications of new hybrids are provided.     

Coordination-based gold nanoparticle layers

Gold nanoparticle (NP) mono- and multilayers were constructed on gold surfaces using coordination chemistry. Hydrophilic Au NPs (6.4 nm average core diameter), capped with a monolayer of 6-mercaptohexanol, were modified by partial substitution of bishydroxamic acid disulfide ligand molecules into their capping layer. A monolayer of the ligand-modified Au NPs was assembled via coordination with Zr4+ ions onto a semitransparent Au substrate (15 nm Au, evaporated on silanized glass and annealed) precoated with a self-assembled monolayer of the bishydroxamate disulfide ligand. Layer-by-layer construction of NP multilayers was achieved by alternate binding of Zr4+ ions and ligand-modified NPs onto the first NP layer. Characterization by atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry, wettability, transmission UV-vis spectroscopy, and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy showed regular growth of NP layers, with a similar NP density in successive layers and gradually increased roughness. The use of coordination chemistry enables convenient step-by-step assembly of different ligand-possessing components to obtain elaborate structures. This is demonstrated by introducing nanometer-scale vertical spacing between a NP layer and the gold surface, using a coordination-based organic multilayer. Electrical characterization of the NP films was carried out using conductive AFM, emphasizing the barrier properties of the organic spacer multilayer. The results exhibit the potential of coordination self-assembly in achieving highly controlled composite nanostructures comprising molecules, NPs, and other ligand-derivatized components.     

Coordination Assembly of Discoid Nanoparticles

Supramolecular chemistry utilizes coordination bonds to assemble molecular building blocks into a variety of sophisticated constructs. However, traditional coordination assemblies are based on organic compounds that have limited ability to transport charge. Herein, we describe coordination assembly of anisotropic FeS₂ pyrite nanoparticles (NPs) that can facilitate charge transport. Zn²⁺ ions form supramolecular complexes with carboxylate end‐groups on NP surface, leading to multiparticle sheets with liquid‐crystal‐like organization. Conductivity and Hall carrier mobility of the p‐type layered semiconductor films with Zn²⁺ coordination bridging exceed those known for coordination compounds, some by several orders of magnitude. The nanoscale porosity of the assembled sheets combined with fast hole transport leads to high electrocatalytic activity of the NP films. The coordination assembly of NPs embraces the versatility of several types of building blocks and opens a new design space for self‐organized materials combining nanoscale and supramolecular structural motifs.     

金属卟啉二维纳米晶的制备及其光电性能

金属卟啉是一种重要的金属-有机复合物,在光电转换器件、催化、传感、医学等领域有着广阔的应用前景。对无机二维纳米材料（石墨烯或过渡金属硫属化合物等）的广泛研究促使金属-有机二维纳米材料成为当前的研究热点之一。本文针对金属-有机以及卟啉二维纳米材料的研究现状,在简要回顾金属-有机二维纳米材料发展历史的基础上,详细总结了金属卟啉单分散二维纳米晶和二维薄膜的制备方法,综述了其当前在太阳能电池、光电催化以及光学传感等方面的应用,最后讨论了金属卟啉二维纳米材料当前面临的研究问题及未来可能的发展方向。     

纳米粒子的精准组装

纳米材料由于其独特的光、电、磁、力学等性质,成为了构建功能材料与器件的理想基元。实现纳米粒子的精确组装,是探究粒子之间的耦合聚集性质和制备宏观功能器件的基础。但是由于纳米粒子的小尺寸以及在溶液中运动的随机性与复杂性,精准控制纳米粒子组装体的形貌以及在空间中的相对位置仍存在巨大挑战。为了将纳米粒子组装成理想的有序结构,许多控制粒子组装的策略与方法得到发展。本文首先概述了纳米粒子自组装的控制方法与典型形貌,着重分析了影响粒子精准排布的因素与控制方法,并对纳米粒子及其组装体的光学性质与器件应用的最新研究进展进行了讨论,最后对目前纳米粒子精准组装所面临的挑战以及未来发展的方向进行了展望。     

Tailoring block copolymer and polymer blend morphology using nanoparticle surfactants

Combining the functionality of nanoparticles (NPs) with the processability of polymers offers great promise for designing novel materials. In particular, NPs with tailored surface properties can effectively modify the interface between two distinct fluids and/or different polymer matrices which allows them to function as efficient surfactants. The efficiency of NP surfactants is strongly affected by their size and shape, which influences their adsorption energy to the interface, and the entropic contribution to the system. In this review, the assembly of size- and shape-controlled inorganic NPs at the interface of block copolymers (BCPs) and polymer blends has been focused. First, we discuss the design of size- and shape-controlled NP surfactants and we review the examples of NP surfactant-driven BCPs and polymer blend morphologies. In addition, we review the recent investigations of the morphological transition of BCP emulsion particles induced by NP surfactants. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016, 54, 228–237     

金属有机骨架复合材料在样品预处理中的研究进展

金属有机骨架（MOFs）材料是近几年涌现出的一类新型多功能多孔材料,以金属离子或金属簇为配位中心,与含氧或氮的有机配体通过配位作用形成多孔骨架结构。相比于其他传统无机多孔材料,MOFs具有比表面积高、孔隙率大、热稳定性好和结构与功能多样化的特点,因而被广泛用于气体存储、催化、吸附和分离等领域。MOFs复合材料在样品预处理方面的应用引起了研究者们的极大兴趣和广泛关注。由于MOFs材料和不同功能材料如高分子聚合物、碳基材料以及磁性材料组装复合,使MOFs复合材料的性能优于原来的MOFs材料。综述了近年MOFs复合材料在样品预处理的研究应用,尤其是在固相微萃取、固相萃取以及磁性固相萃取等方面的应用。     

A Surfactant‐Encapsulating Polyoxometalate Nanowire Assembly as a New Carrier for Nanoscale Noble‐Metal Catalysts

The loading of noble‐metal nanoparticles (NMNPs) onto various carriers to obtain stable and highly efficient catalysts is currently an important strategy in the development of noble metal (NM)‐based catalytic reactions and their applications. We herein report a nanowire supramolecular assembly constructed from the surfactant‐encapsulating polyoxometalates (SEPs) CTAB‐PW₁₂, which can act as new carriers for NMNPs. In this case, the Ag NPs are loaded onto the SEP nanowire assembly with a narrow size distribution from 5 to 20 nm in diameter; the average size is approximately 10 nm. The Ag NPs on the nanowire assemblies are well stabilized and the over agglomeration of Ag NPs is avoided owing to the existence of well‐arranged polyoxometalate (POM) units in the SEP assembly and the hydrophobic surfactant on the surface of the nanowire assembly. Furthermore, the loading amount of the Ag NPs can be adjusted by controlling the concentration of the AgNO₃ aqueous solution. The resultant Ag/CTAB‐PW₁₂ composite materials exhibit high activity and good stability for the catalytic reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP) with NaBH₄ in isopropanol/H₂O solution. The NMNPs‐loaded SEP nanoassembly may represent a new composite catalyst system for application in NM‐based catalysis.