Current therapy of malignant glioma in clinic is unsatisfactory with poor patient compliance due to low therapeutic efficiency and strong systemic side effects. Herein, we combined chemo-photothermal targeted therapy of glioma within one novel multifunctional drug delivery system. A targeting peptide (IP)-modified mesoporous silica-coated graphene nanosheet (GSPI) was successfully synthesized and characterized, and first introduced to the drug delivery field. A doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded GSPI-based system (GSPID) showed heat-stimulative, pH-responsive, and sustained release properties. Cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that combined therapy mediated the highest rate of death of glioma cells compared to that of single chemotherapy or photothermal therapy. Furthermore, the IP modification could significantly enhance the accumulation of GSPID within glioma cells. These findings provided an excellent drug delivery system for combined therapy of glioma due to the advanced chemo-photothermal synergistic targeted therapy and good drug release properties of GSPID, which could effectively avoid frequent and invasive dosing and improve patient compliance.

During the past decades, π-conjugated polymers have been studied intensively owing to their potential applications in organic optoelectronic devices, such as polymeric light-emitting diodes, bulk heterojunction solar cells, organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic memories, biosensors, and actuators. 1,2 The performance of organic devices is determined not only by the inherent electronic structures of individual polymer chain 3,4 but also by multiscale morphologies that were constructed by the drive of supramolecular interactions or van der Waals' forces. Many efforts have been made to design the controllable welldefined nanostructures or hierarchically ordered assemblies in the field of supramolecular semiconductors and electronics for the high-performance or new functional devices. 5,6 One typical example is that ordered self-organization of polythiophenes dramatically influences the performance of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells as well as the mobility of OFETs. 7,8 Lightemitting polyfluorenes (PFs) is another impressive example of polymorphisms, including amorphous phase, semicrystalline (R-) phase and R 0 -phase, β-phase, and nematic liquid crystalline (N-) phase. These abundant phases provide a unique opportunity to study the relationship between phase morphology and device performances. 9-13 For example, PFO thin film containing the β-phase exhibits the excellent spectral stability in PLEDs and the pumped lasers with low threshold. 14-16 In this context, it is of the utmost importance to explore further the unique morphology and phase of π-conjugated polymers, which are based on its unique self-assembly mode and supramolecular interactions. Supramolecular gel is a fascinating state that appears solid-like and yet is composed predominantly of a liquid and a small amount of gelators stabilized by supramolecular interactions with 3D networks. 17-20 Until now, low-molecular-mass organogels (LMOGs) have been applied in a wide range of fields, such as biomimetics, separations, drug delivery, soft templates, and tissue engineering. 21-24 Steroid or lipid units have served as gelators to generate cross-linking points in the 3D networks. 25 In addition, some electronically inactive comb-shaped polymers (isotactic and syndiotactic polystyrene (PS), 26 poly(methyl methacrylate), 27 and polyesters 28 ) have also been found to form gel networks easily owing to their unique helical conformations. However, little attention has been paid to π-conjugated polymers. 29-32 Supramolecular π-conjugated polymer gels (SCPGs) can be served as one kind of semiconducting soft materials with distinguished porous structures that may find applications in nanosensors, 33 mimic-artificial muscle, 34 super capacitor, 35 and lithium battery material. 36 Poly(3-alkylthiophene)-based gels were prepared by quenching xylene solution at 150°C, and its conductivity was improved. 37,38 ABSTRACT: Supramolecular π-conjugated polymer-based gels (SCPGs) are one important kind of semiconducting soft materials. Herein we demonstrate a p...

Changjiang (2018) Design and compressive behavior of controllable irregular porous scaffolds: based on Veronoi-tessellation and for additive manufacturing. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering, 4 (2). pp. 719-727.

Despite the fascinating Li storage properties of organic carbonyl compounds, e.g., high therotical capacity and fast kinetics, it is still lack of a facile and effective way that capable of large‐scale producion of advanced carbonyl cathodes for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs). Here, a generic strategy is proposed by combining sonication and hydrothermal techniques for scalable synthesis of high performance organic carbonyl cathodes for LIBs. A series of commercialized vat dyes with abundant electroactive conjugated carbonyl groups are confined in between the graphene layers, forming a compatible 3D hybrid architecture. The unique structure affords good Li+ ions accessibility to the electrode and short Li+ ions diffusion length. Meanwhile, each sandwiched graphene layer functions as a miniature current collector, ensuring fast electron transport throughout the entire electrode. Consequently, the cathodic performances of LIBs using the composites as electrodes, for example, Vat Green 8/graphene, Vat Brown BR/graphene, and Vat Olive T/graphene, possess high specific capacity, exceptional cycling stability, and excellent rate capability. The effect of vat dye content on the morphology, structure, and the final electrochemical performance of the composites is investigated as well. This work provides a versatile and low‐cost platform for large‐scale development of advanced organic‐based electrodes toward sustainable energy fields.

A practicable strategy to rationally obtain the reversible mechanochromic luminescent (MCL) material with high‐contrast ratio (green versus red) has been established. By introducing a volatile third party (small‐sized solvent molecules) into the lattice of charge transfer (CT) cocrystal of mixed‐stacking 1:1 coronene (Cor.) and napthalenetetracarboxylic diimide (NDI), a noteworthy reconfigurable molecular assembly is ingeniously achieved owing to the loosely packing arrangement as well as weakened intermolecular interactions. Accordingly, the CT excited state, strongly corresponding to the molecular stacking modes, can be intentionally tailored through external stimulus (heating, grinding, or solvent), accompanying distinct changes in photophysical properties. Subsequently, a high‐contrast reversible MCL with highly sensitive and good reproducibility is realized and the underlying mechanism is thoroughly revealed.

No abstract

Nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon nanosheets were prepared through co-pyrolysis of magnesium citrate and potassium citrate and the following NH3treatment.

Background/Aims: Doxorubicin (DOX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the acquirement of DOX resistance limits its clinical application for cancer therapy. Mounting evidence has suggested that aberrantly expressed lncRNAs contribute to drug resistance of various tumors. Our study aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in chemoresistance of CRC to DOX. Methods: The expressions of XIST, miR-124, serum and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) mRNA in DOX-resistant CRC tissues and cells were detected by qRT-PCR or western blot analysis. DOX sensitivity was assessed by detecting IC50 value of DOX, the protein levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and glutathione S-transferase-π (GST-π) and apoptosis. The interactions between XIST, miR-124 and SGK1 were confirmed by luciferase reporter assay, qRT-PCR and western blot. Xenograft tumor assay was used to verify the role of XIST in DOX resistance in CRC in vivo. Results: XIST expression was upregulated and miR-124 expression was downregulated in DOX-resistant CRC tissues and cells. Knockdown of XIST inhibited DOX resistance of CRC cells, as evidenced by the reduced IC50 value of DOX, decreased P-gp and GST-π levels and enhanced apoptosis in XIST-silenced DOX-resistant CRC cells. Additionally, XIST positively regulated SGK1 expression by interacting with miR-124 in DOX-resistant CRC cells. miR-124 suppression strikingly reversed XIST-knockdown-mediated repression on DOX resistance in DOX-resistant CRC cells. Moreover, SGK1-depletion-elicited decrease of DOX resistance was greatly restored by XIST overexpression or miR-124 inhibition in DOX-resistant CRC cells. Furthermore, XIST knockdown enhanced the anti-tumor effect of DOX in CRC in vivo. Conclusion: XIST exerted regulatory function in resistance of DOX possibly through miR-124/SGK1 axis, shedding new light on developing promising therapeutic strategy to overcome chemoresistance in CRC patients.