Cs WO nanorods coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers are developed as "four-in-one" multifunctional nanomaterials with significant potential for computed tomography/photoacoustic tomography bimodal imaging-guided photothermal/photodynamic cancer treatment.

A theranostic system of image-guided phototherapy is considered as a potential technique for cancer treatment because of the ability to integrate diagnostics and therapies together, thus enhancing accuracy and visualization during the treatment. In this work, we realized photoacoustic (PA) imaging-guided photothermal (PT)/photodynamic (PD) combined cancer treatment just via a single material, MoO quantum dots (QDs). Due to their strong NIR harvesting ability, MoO QDs can convert incident light into hyperthermia and sensitize the formation of singlet oxygen synchronously as evidenced by in vitro assay, hence, they can behave as both PT and PD agents effectively and act as a "dual-punch" to cancer cells. In a further study, elimination of solid tumors from HeLa-tumor bearing mice could be achieved in a MoO QD mediated phototherapeutic group without obvious lesions to the major organs. In addition, the desired PT effect also makes MoO QDs an exogenous PA contrast agent for in vivo live-imaging to depict tumors. Compared with previously reported theranostic systems that put several components into one system, our multifunctional agent of MoO QDs is exempt from unpredictable mutual interference between components and ease of leakage of virtual components from the composited system.

In this manuscript, four common transition-metal derived metal-organic frameworks have been extensively investigated as heterogeneous catalyst supports for Knoevenagel condensation reactions. A simple post-synthetic modification strategy was employed for the rapid and facile introduction of a primary alkyl amino group. The resulted novel MOF-RNH 2 catalysts showed greatly enhanced Knoevenagel condensation reactivities towards a variety of aldehyde electrophiles. IRMOF-3 proved to be an unsuitable heterogeneous catalyst support due to its fragile nature upon treatment with base. The novel zirconium based UiO-66-NH -RNH 2 and chromium based Cr-MIL-101-NH-RNH 2 materials showed excellent catalytic reactivities, while being highly convenient to synthesize. The basic catalytic activity was further extended to the Henry reaction and excellent catalytic reactivity was achieved. The size-selectivity was also studied to show the Knoevenagel condensation occurred inside of the porous structure of the MOF catalyst. The recycling properties of zirconium, aluminum and chromium derived MOFs were evaluated and zirconium based UiO-66 and chromium based Cr-MIL-101 showed excellent catalytic efficiency after five reaction cycles.

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Although nanomaterial-mediated phototherapy, in particular photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT), is extensively investigated in recent years, the ablation mechanism, evolution, and rehabilitation process of in vivo solid tumor after phototherapy are rarely explored yet and remain a terra incognita. Herein, a kind of bismuth ferrite nanoparticles (abbreviated as BFO NPs) are strategically designed and synthesized with a desirable size and bioactivity as a brand-new phototherapeutic agent for the phototherapy, which are of strong near infrared (NIR) absorbance, excellent biocompatibility, and outstanding photophysical activity for the hyperthemia and reactive oxygen species generation. Resultantly, BFO NPs can realize simultaneous PTT/PDT synergistic therapy outcome against cancer cells and solid tumor under NIR laser irradiation. Meanwhile, for the first time, more attentions are paid to demonstrate ablation mechanism and evolution process of in vivo solid tumor after phototherapy by B-mode ultrasonography/magnetic resonance imaging as well as histopathological analysis, all of which verify a series of physiological processes, being in order of necrosis of parenchymal cells, in situ tissue disintegration, liquefaction, and finally encapsulation process.

A new thiourea-containing metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst was synthesized. It overcomes recycling, self-aggregation and solvation issues that exist in homogeneous thiourea catalysts. Nanomorphology was introduced to increase the dispersion of the solid catalyst in solvent. Acetalization and Morita-Baylis-Hillman reactions were catalyzed using the new thiourea MOF catalyst.

Purpose: The present study was to formulate curcumin solid lipid nanoparticles (Cur-SLNs) with P-gp modulator excipients, TPGS and Brij78, to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of curcumin. Methods: The formulation was optimized by Plackett-Burman screening design and Box-Behnken experiment design. Then physiochemical properties, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release of Cur-SLNs were characterized. In vivo pharmacokinetics study and in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion were performed to investigate the effects of Cur-SLNs on the bioavailability and intestinal absorption of curcumin. Results: The optimized formulations showed an average size of 135.3 ± 1.5 nm with a zeta potential value of À24.7 ± 2.1 mV and 91.09% ± 1.23% drug entrapment efficiency, meanwhile displayed a sustained release profile. In vivo pharmacokinetic study showed AUC 0!t for Cur-SLNs was 12.27-folds greater than curcumin suspension and the relative bioavailability of Cur-SLNs was 942.53%. Meanwhile, T max and t 1/2 of curcumin for Cur-SLNs were both delayed comparing to the suspensions (p50.01). The in situ intestinal absorption study revealed that the effective permeability (P eff ) value of curcumin for SLNs was significantly improved (p50.01) comparing to curcumin solution. Conclusion: Cur-SLNs with TPGS and Brij78 could improve the oral bioavailability and intestinal absorption of curcumin effectively. KeywordsCurcumin, in situ intestinal absorption, oral bioavailability, P-glycoprotein, solid lipid nanoparticles History

Enzymeless hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) detection with high sensitivity and excellent selectivity is desirable for clinical diagnosis. Herein, one-dimensional Co 3 O 4 nanowires have been successfully constructed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via a simple hydrothermal procedure and subsequent thermal treatment. These Co 3 O 4 nanowires, assembled by small nanoparticles, are interlaced with one another and make a spider web-like structure on rGO. The formation of Co 3 O 4 -rGO hybrids is attributed to the structure-directing and anchoring roles of DDA and GO, respectively. The resulting structure possesses abundant active sites, the oriented transmission of electrons, and unimpeded pathways for matter diffusion, which endows the Co 3 O 4 -rGO hybrids with excellent electrocatalytic performance. As a result, the obtained Co 3 O 4 -rGO hybrids can serve as an efficient electrochemical catalyst for H 2 O 2 oxidation and high sensitivity detection. Under physiological conditions, the oxidation current of H 2 O 2 varies linearly with respect to its concentration from 0.015 to 0.675 mM with a sensitivity of 1.14 mA · mM -1 ·cm -2 and a low detection limit of 2.4 μM. Furthermore, the low potential (-0.19 V) and the good selectivity make Co 3 O 4 -rGO hybrids suitable for monitoring H 2 O 2 generated by liver cancer HepG2 cells. Therefore, it is promising as a non-enzymatic sensor to achieve real-time quantitative detection of H 2 O 2 in biological applications.