A novel ferrocenium capped amphiphilic pillar[5]arene (FCAP) was synthesized and self-assembled to cationic vesicles in aqueous solution. The cationic vesicles, displaying low cytotoxicity and significant redox-responsive behavior due to the redox equilibrium between ferrocenium cations and ferrocenyl groups, allow building an ideal glutathione (GSH)-responsive drug/siRNA co-delivery system for rapid drug release and gene transfection in cancer cells in which higher GSH concentration exists. This is the first report of redox-responsive vesicles assembled from pillararenes for drug/siRNA co-delivery; besides enhancing the bioavailability of drugs for cancer cells and reducing the adverse side effects for normal cells, these systems can also overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells. This work presents a good example of rational design for an effective stimuli-responsive drug/siRNA co-delivery system.

Photothermal therapy at the NIR‐II biowindow (1000–1350 nm) is drawing increasing interest because of its large penetration depth and maximum permissible exposure. Now, the supramolecular radical dimer, fabricated by N,N′‐dimethylated dipyridinium thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole radical cation (MPT.+) and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), achieves strong absorption at NIR‐II biowindow. The supramolecular radical dimer (2MPT.+‐CB[8]) showed highly efficient photothermal conversion and improved stability, thus contributing to the strong inhibition on HegG2 cancer cell under 1064 nm irradiation even penetrating through chicken breast tissue. This work provides a novel approach to construct NIR‐II chromophore by tailor‐made assembly of organic radicals. It is anticipated that this study provides a new strategy to achieve NIR‐II photothermal therapy and holds promises in luminescence materials, optoelectronic materials, and also biosensing.

Experimental procedures and supporting figures (PDF).

Polymeric supra-amphiphiles are amphiphiles that are fabricated by linking polymeric segments, or small molecules and polymeric segments, by noncovalent interactions or dynamic covalent bonds.

A charge-reversal amphiphilic pillar[5]­arene, P5NH-DCA, bearing 10 charge-reversal headgroups is reported. It targets the cell membrane of cancer cells and selectively destroys the cancer cells by disrupting the membrane. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the headgroup charge of P5NH-DCA reversed from negative to positive owing to hydrolysis of the acid-labile amide group. The hydrolyzed product bearing multiple positive charges can bind to the cell membrane and then disrupt the membrane of cancer cells with high efficiency. However, under the neutral microenvironment of healthy cells, the negatively charged P5NH-DCA remains stable and the cytotoxicity is considerably reduced. The strategy killing the cancer cells by membrane disruption may represent a new route of cancer chemotherapy.

Supramolecular vesicles based on the host-guest complexation of ferrocenecarboxylic acid capped pillar[5]arene and a galactose derivative have been constructed, which showed dual-responsiveness and cancer cells targetability resulting from its ferrocenecarboxylic acid units and galactose units, respectively. This work provides a good example for the construction of multifunctional nanocarriers for targeted drug delivery.

Targeted codelivery and controlled release of drug/siRNA (small interfering RNA) in a safe and effective vehicle hold great promises for overcoming drug resistance and optimal efficacy in cancer treatment; however, rational design and preparation of such vehicles remain a critical challenge. Thus, glyco‐nanofibers (GNFs) are fabricated via supermolecular assembly of polyanionic siRNA and cationic vesicles to simultaneously deliver siRNA and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) in vitro and in vivo. The vesicles are created through self‐assembly of a positively charged amphiphilic lactose derivative featuring a lactose moiety and a ferrocenium unit on either end of the molecule. The GNFs display excellent biocompatibility, enhanced cell‐penetrating ability, and hepatoma targetability. The high transport efficiency of siRNA, effective gene silencing ability, and enhanced cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells of GNFs loaded with DOX are observed in vitro. Furthermore, in vivo experiments show reduced systemic toxicity and enhanced therapeutic efficacy of DOX to both HepG2 and HepG2/ADR subcutaneous tumor‐bearing nude mice. This work proves the electrostatic self‐assembly between cationic carbohydrates and polyanionic siRNA to be a convenient and effective strategy to fabricate a single vehicle for safe and effective codelivery of drug/siRNA, which can be used to combine chemo‐ and gene‐therapy against cancers and other diseases.

A novel ferrocenium capped amphiphilic pillar[5]arene (FCAP) was synthesized and self‐assembled to cationic vesicles in aqueous solution. The cationic vesicles, displaying low cytotoxicity and significant redox‐responsive behavior due to the redox equilibrium between ferrocenium cations and ferrocenyl groups, allow building an ideal glutathione (GSH)‐responsive drug/siRNA co‐delivery system for rapid drug release and gene transfection in cancer cells in which higher GSH concentration exists. This is the first report of redox‐responsive vesicles assembled from pillararenes for drug/siRNA co‐delivery; besides enhancing the bioavailability of drugs for cancer cells and reducing the adverse side effects for normal cells, these systems can also overcome the drug resistance of cancer cells. This work presents a good example of rational design for an effective stimuli‐responsive drug/siRNA co‐delivery system.