Controlled stimuli-responsive release systems are a feasible and effective way to increase the efficiency of pesticides and help improve environmental pollution issues. However, near-infrared (NIR)-responsive systems for encapsulation of pesticides for controlling release have not been reported because of high cost and load ability of conventional NIR absorbers as well as complicated preparation process. Herein, we proposed polydopamine (PDA) microspheres as a photothermal agent owing to their abundant active sites, satisfactory photothermal efficiency, low cost, and easy fabrication, followed by capping with a PNIPAm thermosensitive polymer shell. In this core-shell PDA@PNIPAm hybrid system, the PDA core provided excellent temperature and NIR-light sensitivity as well as high loading capacity, while the PNIPAm applied as both a thermosensitive gatekeeper and a pesticide reservoir. The structure of the PDA@PNIPAm nanocomposites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric analysis; the results showed that the nanocomposites had a well-defined core-shell configuration for efficient loading of small pesticide molecules. Moreover, the core-shell PDA@PNIPAm nanocomposites exhibited high loading capacity and temperature- or NIR-controlled release performance. Overall, this system has significant potential in controlled drug release and agriculture-related fields as a delivery system for pesticides with photothermal responsive behavior.
Local hypoxia in tumors results in undesirable impediments for the efficiencies of oxygen‐dependent chemical and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Herein, a versatile oxygen‐generating and pH‐responsive nanoplatform is developed by loading MnO2 nanodots onto the nanosystem that encapsulates g‐C3N4 and doxorubicin hydrochloride to overcome the hypoxia‐caused resistance in cancer therapy. The loaded MnO2 nanodots can react with endogenous acidic H2O2 to elevate the dissolved oxygen concentration, leading to considerably enhanced cancer therapy efficacy. As such, the as‐prepared nanoplatform with excellent dispersibility and satisfactory biocompatibility can sustainably increase the oxygen concentration and rapidly release the encapsulated drugs in acid H2O2 environment. In vitro cytotoxicity experiments show a higher therapy effect by the designed nanoplatform, when compared to therapy without MnO2 nanodots under hypoxia condition, or chemical and photodynamic therapy alone with the presence of MnO2 nanodots. In vivo experiments also demonstrate that 4T1 tumors can be very efficiently eliminated by the designed nanoplatform under light irradiation. These results highlight that the MnO2 nanodots‐based nanoplatform is promising for elevating the oxygen level in tumor microenvironments to overcome hypoxia limitations for high‐performance cancer therapy.
Bimetallic iron–nickel sulfide nanowall arrays supported on nickel foam (Fe11.1%–Ni3S2/Ni foam) could efficiently drive both the overall water and urea electrolysis.
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