Two end-decorated homopolymers, poly(styrene)-beta-cyclodextrin (PS-beta-CD) and poly(ethylene oxide)-ferrocene (PEO-Fc), can orthogonally self-assemble into a supramolecular diblock copolymer (PS-beta-CD/PEO-Fc) in aqueous solutions based on the terminal host-guest interactions. These assemblies can further form supramolecular vesicles, and their assembly and disassembly behaviors can be reversibly switched by voltage through the reversible association and disassociation of the middle supramolecular connection. The vesicles possess an unprecedented property that their assembly or disassembly speed can be controlled by the applied voltage strength. Luminescence spectroscopy demonstrates that the vesicles act as nanocapsules carrying molecules within their hollow cavities and that the external voltage strength accurately regulates the drug release time.

A porphyrin-containing copolymer has dual-sensing in response to metal ions and temperature as a novel nanosensor. Triggered by ions, the sensor exhibits full-color tunable behavior as a cationic detector and colorimeter. Responding to temperature, the sensor displays an "isothermal" thermochromic point as an ultra-sensitive thermometer.

Multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles, Fe 3 O 4 @poly[(2-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate]-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-graft-carbazole, with pH-responsivity, superparamagnetism and fluorescence for targeted drug delivery and release have been synthesized. The nanoparticles have a core-shell structure as determined from transmission electron microscopy, pH-responsivity as determined from hydrodynamic radius analysis, superparamagnetism as determined from vibrating sample magnetometry and fluorescence as determined from fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence microscopy. The release behavior of model drug progesterone indicates that the release rate can be effectively controlled by altering the pH of the environment. The multifunctional nanoparticles could be applied extensively in targeted drug delivery and release, and with fluorescence they can serve as efficient tracers to record magnetic targeting routes. Scheme 2. Schematic of effect of change of pH.

Green single crystals of the title compound, [Ni(N3)2(C6H6N4)2], were obtained by reacting nickel(II) perchlorate with 2,2′‐biimidazole (H2bim) and sodium azide. The azide and H2bim ligands are bonded to the Ni atom, which lies on an inversion centre, with approximately octahedral geometry. The azide anions are terminally bonded in two trans postitions. A two‐dimensional supramolecular network is formed through hydrogen bonds between ligand H2bim and azide N atoms.