Mechanically Initiated Bulk‐Scale Free‐Radical Polymerization

Mechanical initiation of polymerization offers the chance to generate polymers in new environments using an energy source with unique capabilities. Recently, a renewed interest in mechanically controlled polymerization has yielded many techniques for controlled radical polymerization by ultrasound. However, other types of polymerizations induced by mechanical activation are rare, especially for generating high‐molecular‐weight polymers. Herein is an example of using piezoelectric ZnO nanoparticles to generate free‐radical species that initiate chain‐growth polymerization and polymer crosslinking. The fast generation of high amounts of reactive radicals enable the formation of polymer/gel by ultrasound activation. This chemistry can be used to harness mechanical energy for constructive purposes in polymeric materials and for controlled polymerizations for bulk‐scale reactions.     

Real‐Time Intracellular Measurements of ROS and RNS in Living Cells with Single Core–Shell Nanowire Electrodes

Nanoelectrodes allow precise and quantitative measurements of important biological processes at the single living‐cell level in real time. Cylindrical nanowire electrodes (NWEs) required for intracellular measurements create a great challenge for achieving excellent electrochemical and mechanical performances. Herein, we present a facile and robust solution to this problem based on a unique SiC‐core–shell design to produce cylindrical NWEs with superior mechanical toughness provided by the SiC nano‐core and an excellent electrochemical performance provided by the ultrathin carbon shell that can be used as such or platinized. The use of such NWEs for biological applications is illustrated by the first quantitative measurements of ROS/RNS in individual phagolysosomes of living macrophages. As the shell material can be varied to meet any specific detection purpose, this work opens up new opportunities to monitor quantitatively biological functions occurring inside cells and their organelles.     

Release of Amino‐ or Carboxy‐Containing Compounds Triggered by HOCl: Application for Imaging and Drug Design

The overproduction of HOCl is highly correlated with diseases such as atherosclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Whilst acting as a marker of these diseases, HOCl might also be used as an activator of prodrugs or drug delivery systems for the treatment of the corresponding disease. In this work, a new platform of HOCl probes has been developed that integrates detection, imaging, and therapeutic functions. The probes can detect HOCl, using both NIR emission and the naked eye in vitro, with high sensitivity and selectivity at ultralow concentrations (the detection limit is at the nanomolar level). Basal levels of HOCl can be imaged in HL‐60 cells without special stimulation. Moreover, the probes provided by this platform can rapidly release either amino‐ or carboxy‐containing compounds from prodrugs, during HOCl detection and imaging, to realize a therapeutic effect.     

Initiator‐Loaded Gold Nanocages as a Light‐Induced Free‐Radical Generator for Cancer Therapy

Tumor hypoxia greatly suppresses the therapeutic efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT), mainly because the generation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PDT is highly oxygen‐dependent. In contrast to ROS, the generation of oxygen‐irrelevant free radicals is oxygen‐independent. A new therapeutic strategy based on the light‐induced generation of free radicals for cancer therapy is reported. Initiator‐loaded gold nanocages (AuNCs) as the free‐radical generator were synthesized. Under near‐infrared light (NIR) irradiation, the plasmonic heating effect of AuNCs can induce the decomposition of the initiator to generate alkyl radicals (R^.), which can elevate oxidative‐stress (OS) and cause DNA damages in cancer cells, and finally lead to apoptotic cell death under different oxygen tensions. As a proof of concept, this research opens up a new field to use various free radicals for cancer therapy.     

Ceria Nanoparticle Systems for Selective Scavenging of Mitochondrial,Intracellular, and Extracellular Reactive Oxygen Species in Parkinson's Disease

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the critical factors that involves in the pathogenesis and progression of many diseases. However, lack of proper techniques to scavenge ROS depending on their cellular localization limits a thorough understanding of the pathological effects of ROS. Here, we demonstrate the selective scavenging of mitochondrial, intracellular, and extracellular ROS using three different types of ceria nanoparticles (NPs), and its application to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). Our data show that scavenging intracellular or mitochondrial ROS inhibits the microglial activation and lipid peroxidation, while protecting the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the striata of PD model mice. These results indicate the essential roles of intracellular and mitochondrial ROS in the progression of PD. We anticipate that our ceria NP systems will serve as a useful tool for elucidating the functions of various ROS in diseases.     

Electrochemiluminescence of CdSe Quantum Dots Composited with Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Nanotubes

A nanocomposite of CdSe quantum dots with nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes was prepared for enhancing the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) emission of quantum dots. With hydrogen peroxide as co‐reactant, the nanocomposite modified electrode showed a cathodic ECL emission with a starting potential of ?0.97 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in phosphate buffer solution, which was five‐times stronger than that from pure CdSe quantum dots and three‐times stronger than that from CdSe quantum dots composited with carbon nanotubes. The latter showed a starting potential of ?1.19 V. This result led to a sensitive ECL sensing of hydrogen peroxide with good stability, acceptable reproducibility and a detection limit down to 2.1×10^?7 mol L^?1. Nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotubes could be used as a good material for the construction of sensitive ECL biosensors for chemical and biochemical analysis.     

Near‐Infrared Free‐Radical and Free‐Radical‐Promoted Cationic Photopolymerizations by In‐Source Lighting Using Upconverting Glass

A method is presented for the initiation of free‐radical and free‐radical‐promoted cationic photopolymerizations by in‐source lighting in the near‐infrared (NIR) region using upconverting glass (UCG). This approach utilizes laser irradiation of UCG at 975 nm in the presence of fluorescein (FL) and pentamethyldiethylene triamine (PMDETA). FL excited by light emitted from the UCG undergoes electron‐transfer reactions with PMDETA to form free radicals capable of initiating polymerization of methyl methacrylate. To execute the corresponding free‐radical‐promoted cationic polymerization of cyclohexene oxide, isobutyl vinyl ether, and N ‐vinyl carbazole, it was necessary to use FL, dimethyl aniline (DMA), and diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate as sensitizer, coinitiator, and oxidant, respectively. Iodonium ions promptly oxidize DMA radicals formed to the corresponding cations. Thus, cationic polymerization with efficiency comparable to the conventional irradiation source was achieved.     

Lysosome‐Targeting Amplifiers of Reactive Oxygen Species as Anticancer Prodrugs

Cancer cells produce elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, which has been used to design cancer specific prodrugs. Their activation relies on at least a bimolecular process, in which a prodrug reacts with ROS. However, at low micromolar concentrations of the prodrugs and ROS, the activation is usually inefficient. Herein, we propose and validate a potentially general approach for solving this intrinsic problem of ROS‐dependent prodrugs. In particular, known prodrug 4‐(N ‐ferrocenyl‐N ‐benzylaminocarbonyloxymethyl)phenylboronic acid pinacol ester was converted into its lysosome‐specific analogue. Since lysosomes contain a higher concentration of active ROS than the cytoplasm, activation of the prodrug was facilitated with respect to the parent compound. Moreover, it was found to exhibit high anticancer activity in a variety of cancer cell lines (IC₅₀=3.5–7.2 μm ) and in vivo (40 mg kg⁻¹, NK/Ly murine model) but remained weakly toxic towards non‐malignant cells (IC₅₀=15–30 μm ).     

Selenium‐Substituted Diketopyrrolopyrrole Polymer for High‐Performance p‐Type Organic Thermoelectric Materials

Development of high‐performance organic thermoelectric (TE) materials is of vital importance for flexible power generation and solid‐cooling applications. Demonstrated here is the significant enhancement in TE performance of selenium‐substituted diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivatives. Along with strong intermolecular interactions and high Hall mobilities of 1.0–2.3 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in doping‐states for polymers, PDPPSe‐12 exhibits a maximum power factor and ZT of up to 364 μW m^?1 K^?2 and 0.25, respectively. The performance is more than twice that of the sulfur‐based DPP derivative and represents the highest value for p‐type organic thermoelectric materials based on high‐mobility polymers. These results reveal that selenium substitution can serve as a powerful strategy towards rationally designed thermoelectric polymers with state‐of‐the‐art performances.     

A General Route to Prepare Low-Ruthenium-Content Bimetallic Electrocatalysts for pH-Universal Hydrogen Evolution Reaction by Using Carbon Quantum Dots

A challenging but pressing task to design and synthesize novel, efficient, and robust pH-universal hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production through electrochemical water splitting. Herein, we report a facile method to prepare an efficient and robust Ru-M (M=Ni, Mn, Cu) bimetal nanoparticle and carbon quantum dot hybrid (RuM/CQDs) for pH-universal HER. The RuNi/CQDs catalysts exhibit outstanding HER performance at all pH levels. The unexpected low overpotentials of 13, 58, and 18 mV shown by RuNi/CQDs allow a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1 m KOH, 0.5 m H₂SO₄, and 1 m PBS, respectively, for Ru loading at 5.93 μgRu cm⁻². This performance is among the best catalytic activities reported for any platinum-free electrocatalyst. Theoretical studies reveal that Ni doping results in a moderate weakening of the hydrogen bonding energy of nearby surface Ru atoms, which plays a critical role in improving the HER activity.     

Highly Luminescent N‐Doped Carbon Quantum Dots as an Effective Multifunctional Fluorescence Sensing Platform

The doping of carbon quantum dots with nitrogen provides a promising direction to improve fluorescence performance and broaden their applications in sensing systems. Herein we report a one‐pot solvothermal synthesis of N‐doped carbon quantum dots (NCQDs) and the synthesis of a series of NCQDs with different nitrogen contents. The as‐prepared NCQDs were compared with carbon quantum dots (CQDs); the introduction of nitrogen atoms largely increased the quantum yield of NCQDs and highest emission efficiency is up to 36.3 %. The fluorescence enhancement may originate from more polyaromatic structures induced by incorporated nitrogen atoms and protonation of nitrogen atoms on dots. It was found that NCQDs can act as a multifunctional fluorescence sensing platform because they can be used to detect pH values, Ag^I, and Fe^III in aqueous solution. The fluorescence intensity of NCQDs is inversely proportional to pH values across a broad range from 5.0 to 13.5, which indicates that NCQDs can be devised as an effective pH indicator. Selective detection of Ag^I and Fe^III was achieved based on their distinctive fluorescence influence because Ag^I can significantly enhance the fluorescence whereas Fe^III can greatly quench the fluorescence. The quantitative determination of Ag^I can be accomplished with NCQDs by using the linear relationship between fluorescence intensity of NCQDs and concentration of Ag^I. The sensitive detection of H₂O₂ was developed by taking advantage of the distinct quenching ability of Fe^III and Fe^II toward the fluorescence of NCQDs. Cellular toxicity test showed NCQDs still retain low toxicity to cells despite the introduction of a great deal of nitrogen atoms. Moreover, bioimaging experiments demonstrated that NCQDs have stronger resistance to photobleaching than CQDs and more excellent fluorescence labeling performance.     

A Boronic Acid Conjugate of Angiogenin that Shows ROS‐Responsive Neuroprotective Activity

Angiogenin (ANG) is a human ribonuclease that is compromised in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ANG also promotes neovascularization, and can induce hemorrhage and encourage tumor growth. The causal neurodegeneration of ALS is associated with reactive oxygen species, which are also known to elicit the oxidative cleavage of carbon–boron bonds. We have developed a synthetic boronic acid mask that restrains the ribonucleolytic activity of ANG. The masked ANG does not stimulate endothelial cell proliferation but protects astrocytes from oxidative stress. By differentiating between the two dichotomous biological activities of ANG, this strategy could provide a viable pharmacological approach for the treatment of ALS.     

Ceria–Zirconia Nanoparticles as an Enhanced Multi‐Antioxidant for Sepsis Treatment

The two oxidation states of ceria nanoparticles, Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺, play a pivotal role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS). In particular, Ce³⁺ is largely responsible for removing O₂⁻ and ^.OH that are associated with inflammatory response and cell death. The synthesis is reported of 2 nm ceria–zirconia nanoparticles (CZ NPs) that possess a higher Ce³⁺/Ce⁴⁺ ratio and faster conversion from Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺ than those exhibited by ceria nanoparticles. The obtained Ce_0.7Zr_0.3O₂ (7CZ) NPs greatly improve ROS scavenging performance, thus regulating inflammatory cells in a very low dose. Moreover, 7CZ NPs are demonstrated to be effective in reducing mortality and systemic inflammation in two representative sepsis models. These findings suggest that 7CZ NPs have the potential as a therapeutic nanomedicine for treating ROS‐related inflammatory diseases.