A Heteroatom-Containing Functional Poly(Silylenevinylene): Synthesis, Anion Binding, and Sensing of Anion Extraction Processes.

Catalytic hydrosilylation is one of the important synthetic approaches to prepare functional organosilicon polymers. Herein, a functional silicon copolymer is constructed by polyhydrosilylation reaction between a novel 3,7-bis(dimethyl silane)-10-(2-ethylhexyl)-10H-phenothiazine monomer and a neutral tetrapyrrolic macrocycle, namely, 5,5,10,15,15,20-hexamethyl-10α, 20α-bis(4-[ethynylphenyl]) calix[4]pyrrole. The as-constructed copolymer (Mn  = 9609, PDI = 2.2) is investigated as an extractant for organic anions as their tetrabutylammonium salts under interfacial aqueous-organic (water-chloroform) conditions. In this context, a distinctive naked-eye colorimetric as well as fluorescence detection method is developed based on anion-directed hydrogen-bonding interactions. This kind of color/fluorescence monitoring serves as a handy tool for rapid screening of anion extraction processes. The copolymer exhibits high selectivity toward extraction of chloride anion. This study augments the field of polycarbosilanes, poly(silylenevinylene)s in particular, allowing access to a new application window that can be further advanced with good grace in near future.

Analysis of Chlorophylls/Chlorophyllins in Food Products Using HPLC and HPLC-MS Methods.

Of the different quality parameters of any food commodity or beverage, color is the most important, attractive and choice-affecting sensory factor to consumers and customers. Nowadays, food industries are interested in making the appearance of their food products attractive and interesting in order to appeal to consumers/customers. Natural green colorants have been accepted universally due to their natural appeal as well as their nontoxic nature to consumers. In addition, several food safety issues mean that natural green colorants are preferable to synthetic food colorants, which are mostly unsafe to the consumers but are less costly, more stable, and create more attractive color hues in food processing. Natural colorants are prone to degradation into numerous fragments during food processing, and thereafter, in storage. Although different hyphenated techniques (especially high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), LC-MS/HRMS, and LC/MS-MS are extensively used to characterize all these degradants and fragments, some of them are not responsive to any of these techniques, and some substituents in the tetrapyrrole skeleton are insensitive to these characterization tools. Such circumstances warrant an alternative tool to characterize them accurately for risk assessment and legislation purposes. This review summarizes the different degradants of chlorophylls and chlorophyllins under different conditions, their separation and identification using various hyphenated techniques, national legislation regarding them, and the challenges involved in their analysis. Finally, this review proposes that a non-targeted analysis method that combines HPLC and HR-MS assisted by powerful software tools and a large database could be an effective tool to analyze all possible chlorophyll and chlorophyllin-based colorants and degradants in food products in the future.

Multimodal Imaging and Phototherapy of Cancer and Bacterial Infection by Graphene and Related Nanocomposites.

The advancements in nanotechnology and nanomedicine are projected to solve many glitches in medicine, especially in the fields of cancer and infectious diseases, which are ranked in the top five most dangerous deadly diseases worldwide by the WHO. There is great concern to eradicate these problems with accurate diagnosis and therapies. Among many developed therapeutic models, near infra-red mediated phototherapy is a non-invasive technique used to invade many persistent tumors and bacterial infections with less inflammation compared with traditional therapeutic models such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgeries. Herein, we firstly summarize the up-to-date research on graphene phototheranostics for a better understanding of this field of research. We discuss the preparation and functionalization of graphene nanomaterials with various biocompatible components, such as metals, metal oxides, polymers, photosensitizers, and drugs, through covalent and noncovalent approaches. The multifunctional nanographene is used to diagnose the disease with confocal laser scanning microscopy, magnetic resonance imaging computed tomography, positron emission tomography, photoacoustic imaging, Raman, and ToF-SMIS to visualize inside the biological system for imaging-guided therapy are discussed. Further, treatment of disease by photothermal and photodynamic therapies against different cancers and bacterial infections are carefully conferred herein along with challenges and future perspectives.

Status Quo on Graphene Electrode Catalysts for Improved Oxygen Reduction and Evolution Reactions in Li-Air Batteries.

Reduced global warming is the goal of carbon neutrality. Therefore, batteries are considered to be the best alternatives to current fossil fuels and an icon of the emerging energy industry. Voltaic cells are one of the power sources more frequently employed than photovoltaic cells in vehicles, consumer electronics, energy storage systems, and medical equipment. The most adaptable voltaic cells are lithium-ion batteries, which have the potential to meet the eagerly anticipated demands of the power sector. Working to increase their power generating and storage capability is therefore a challenging area of scientific focus. Apart from typical Li-ion batteries, Li-Air (Li-O2) batteries are expected to produce high theoretical power densities (3505 W h kg-1), which are ten times greater than that of Li-ion batteries (387 W h kg-1). On the other hand, there are many challenges to reaching their maximum power capacity. Due to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OES), the cathode usually faces many problems. Designing robust structured catalytic electrode materials and optimizing the electrolytes to improve their ability is highly challenging. Graphene is a 2D material with a stable hexagonal carbon network with high surface area, electrical, thermal conductivity, and flexibility with excellent chemical stability that could be a robust electrode material for Li-O2 batteries. In this review, we covered graphene-based Li-O2 batteries along with their existing problems and updated advantages, with conclusions and future perspectives.

Magnetism-tuning strategies for graphene oxide based on magnetic oligoacene oxide patches model.

Graphene oxide (GO) has wide application potential owing to its 2D structure and diverse modification sites for various targeted uses. The introduction of magnetism into GO structures has further advanced the controllability of the application of GO materials. Herein, the concept of modular design and modeling was applied to tune the magnetism of GO. To obtain desirable magnetic properties, diradical-structured GO patches were formed by the introduction of two functional groups to break the Kekule structure of the benzene ring. In these diradical GO patches, the energy of the triplet state was lower than those of the open-shell broken-symmetry singlet state and closed-shell singlet state. To create such multi-radical patches, a practical approach is to determine a substantial spatial separation of the α and ß spin densities in the molecule. Thus, systematic design strategies and tests were evaluated. The first strategy was extending the distance between the distribution center of the α and ß spin densities; the second was controlling the delocalization directions of the α and ß electrons; the third was controlling the delocalization extension of the α and ß electrons by oxidative modification, and finally introducing multi-radical structures into the molecular system and controlling the position of each radical. Herein, successful molecular models with a large magnetic coupling constant (∼3600 cm-1) were obtained. This study paves the way to explore ferromagnetic MGO guided by theoretical study, which may become reality soon.

Graphene-Based Nanomaterials as Efficient Peroxidase Mimetic Catalysts for Biosensing Applications: An Overview.

"Artificial enzymes", a term coined by Breslow for enzyme mimics is an exciting and promising branch of biomimetic chemistry aiming to imitate the general and essential principles of natural enzymes using a variety of alternative materials including heterogeneous catalysts. Peroxidase enzymes represent a large family of oxidoreductases that typically catalyze biological reactions with high substrate affinity and specificity under relatively mild conditions and thus offer a wide range of practical applications in many areas of science. The increasing understanding of general principles as well as intrinsic drawbacks such as low operational stability, high cost, difficulty in purification and storage, and sensitivity of catalytic activity towards atmospheric conditions of peroxidases has triggered a dynamic field in nanotechnology, biochemical, and material science that aims at joining the better of three worlds by combining the concept adapted from nature with the processability of catalytically active graphene-based nanomaterials (G-NMs) as excellent peroxidase mimetic catalysts. This comprehensive review discusses an up-to-date synthesis, kinetics, mechanisms, and biosensing applications of a variety of G-NMs that have been explored as promising catalysts to mimic natural peroxidases.

Graphene-based nanomaterials as heterogeneous acid catalysts: a comprehensive perspective.

Acid catalysis is quite prevalent and probably one of the most routine operations in both industrial processes and research laboratories worldwide. Recently, "graphene", a two dimensional single-layer carbon sheet with hexagonal packed lattice structure, imitative of nanomaterials, has shown great potential as alternative and eco-friendly solid carbocatalyst for a variety of acid-catalyzed reactions. Owing to their exceptional physical, chemical, and mechanical properties, graphene-based nanomaterials (G-NMs) offer highly stable Brønsted acidic sites, high mass transfer, relatively large surface areas, water tolerant character, and convenient recoverability as well as recyclability, whilst retaining high activity in acid-catalyzed chemical reactions. This comprehensive review focuses on the chemistry of G-NMs, including their synthesis, characterization, properties, functionalization, and up-to-date applications in heterogeneous acid catalysis. In line with this, in certain instances readers may find herein some criticisms that should be taken as constructive and would be of value in understanding the scope and limitations of current approaches utilizing graphene and its derivatives for the same.

Green Synthesis of Blue-Emitting Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots for In Vitro CT26 and In Vivo Zebrafish Nano-Imaging as Diagnostic Probes.

Graphene oxide quantum dots (GOQDs) are prepared using black carbon as a feedstock and H2O2 as a green oxidizing agent in a straightforward and environmentally friendly manner. The process adopted microwave energy and only took two minutes. The GOQDs are 20 nm in size and have stable blue fluorescence at 440 nm. The chemical characteristics and QD morphology were confirmed by thorough analysis using scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier transmission infra-red (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The biocompatibility test was used to evaluate the toxicity of GOQDs in CT26 cells in vitro and the IC50 was found to be 200 µg/mL with excellent survival rates. Additional in vivo toxicity assessment in the developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo model found no observed abnormalities even at a high concentration of 400 µg/mL after 96 h post fertilization. The GOQDs luminescence was also tested both in vitro and in vivo. They showed excellent internal distribution in the cytoplasm, cell nucleus, and throughout the zebrafish body. As a result, the prepared GOQDs are expected to be simple and inexpensive materials for nano-imaging and diagnostic probes in nanomedicine.

An ultra-sensitive laccase/polyaziridine-bismuth selenide nanoplates modified GCE for detection of atenolol in pharmaceuticals and urine samples.

The analysis of ß-blockers in pharmaceutical, biological and environmental samples has gained much interest due to their wide applications. The aim of this study was to develop an enzyme-based biosensor using hexagonal-shaped low-dimensional Bi2Se3 NPs decorated with laccase through polyaziridine (PAZ) modified glassy carbon electrode (Lac/PAZ-Bi2Se3 NPs/GCE). Surface properties were examined using SEM, TEM, EDX, XRD, XPS, FTIR, UV-Visible, and zeta potential. Electrochemical studies were performed with cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The enzymatic biosensor exhibited excellent catalytic activity towards the oxidation of ATN at +1.05 V (vs Ag/AgCl). Under the optimum experimental conditions, Ip (µA) was linearly related to the concentrations of ATN in the range of 3 to 130 µM (R2 = 0.9972) with an LOD of 0.15 µM and 0.21 µM with and without Lac enzyme. Additionally, the validation of the biosensor was tested to determine ATN on within a day and between-day basis. The biosensor was applied successfully to detect ATN in real samples. The obtained recoveries range from 98.5 % to 99.2 % with an RSD (n = 5) of 0.95 (±0.02). The findings of this study have potential biomedical applications in drug detection employing a promising nano electrode sensor of Lac/PAZ-Bi2Se3 NPs/GCE.

Correlation Study of Antioxidant Activity with Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds in 12 Indonesian Indigenous Herbs.

The antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of selected Indonesian Zingiberaceae herbs were determined. An optimization extraction procedure was conducted by using Taguchi L16 orthogonal array. Four chemical assays were applied, including 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity assay, H2O2 scavenging activity assay, Folin-Ciocalteau (F-C) assay, and NaNO2-AlCl3-NaOH assay, which revealed remarkable differences in AA, TPC, and TFC. The result indicated the diversity of AA composition among the herbs, and C. longa exhibited the highest AA. HPLC-PAD analysis revealed that curcumin was present in five high antioxidant herbs, and the highest amount was in C. longa. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that the identified TPC and TFC were significant contributors to AA, and curcumin was likely the main contributing antioxidant compound. Our approach concluded that C. longa is the greatest source of natural antioxidants among 12 Indonesian indigenous Zingiberaceae herbs. The use of a mixed-method approach to augment the findings of solitary methods might facilitate future researchers to uncover deeper and hidden meanings.

Colorimetric recognition of hydrazine in aqueous solution by a bromophenol blue-tethered ion-pair-like ratiometric probe.

Hydrazine or hydrazine hydrate (N2H4·H2O) is a potential neurotoxin and has several mutagenic effects in physiological systems. Therefore, the development of synthetic organic probes that are sensitive and selective to hydrazine is of tremendous importance. Unfortunately, however, the hydrazine-selective sensing probes that rely upon minimum usage of the organic solvents (≤5%, v/v) are still rarer. In this work, an ion-pair-like mono acetate derivative of bromophenol blue has been developed as a fairly selective ratiometric probe for the naked-eye recognition of hydrazine in a solution of tris buffer and EtOH (19:1, v/v) at physiological pH. The chromogenic signalling relies upon hydrazine-induced cleavage of an ester moiety of the probe to its resonance stabilized quinonoid form, resulting in momentous variations in its spectrophotometric profile. Meanwhile, the colour of the probe solution changed from mustard yellow to blue within few minutes. This sensing assay could be successfully applied in the recognition of hydrazine in real environmental and pharmaceutical samples with satisfactory recoveries. Given the cost-effectiveness, simplicity and versatility, for instance, direct analysis of colorimetric probes, it is reasonable to propose that the present method can serve as a complementary method for prompt inspection of hydrazine in boiler feed water.

Marigold micro-flower like NiCo2O4 grown on flexible stainless-steel mesh as an electrode for supercapacitors.

Nanostructured NiCo2O4 is a promising material for energy storage systems. Herein, we report the binder-free deposition of porous marigold micro-flower like NiCo2O4 (PNCO) on the flexible stainless-steel mesh (FSSM) as (PNCO@FSSM) electrode by simple chemical bath deposition. The SEM and EDS analysis revealed the marigold micro-flowers like morphology of NiCo2O4 and its elemental composition. The porous nature of the electrode is supported by the BET surface area (100.47 m2 g-1) and BJH pore size diameter (∼1.8 nm) analysis. This PNCO@FSSM electrode demonstrated a specific capacitance of 530 F g-1 at a high current density of 6 mA cm-2 and revealed 90.5% retention of specific capacitance after 3000 cycles. The asymmetric supercapacitor device NiCo2O4//rGO within a voltage window of 1.4 V delivered a maximum energy density of 41.66 W h kg-1 at a power density of 3000 W kg-1. The cyclic stability study of this device revealed 73.33% capacitance retention after 2000 cycles. These results indicate that the porous NiCo2O4 micro-flowers electrode is a promising functional material for the energy storage device.

Impaired sodium levels in the suprachiasmatic nucleus are associated with the formation of cardiovascular deficiency in sleep-deprived rats.

Biological rhythms are a ubiquitous feature of all higher organisms. The rhythmic center of mammals is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which projects to a number of brainstem centers to exert diurnal control over many physiological processes, including cardiovascular regulation. Total sleep deprivation (TSD) is a harmful condition known to impair cardiovascular activity, but the molecular mechanisms are unknown. As the inward sodium current has long been suggested as playing an important role in driving the spontaneous firing of the SCN, the present study aimed to determine if changes in sodium expression, together with its molecular machinery (Na-K ATPase) and rhythmic activity within the SCN, would occur during TSD. Adult rats subjected to different periods of TSD were processed for time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, Na-K ATPase assay, and cytochrome oxidase (COX) (an endogenous bioenergetic marker for neuronal activity) histochemistry. Cardiovascular dysfunction was determined through analysis of heart rate and changes in mean arterial pressure. Results indicated that, in normal rats, strong sodium signals were expressed throughout the entire SCN. Enzymatic data corresponded well with spectrometric findings in which high levels of Na-K ATPase and COX were observed in this nucleus. However, following TSD, all parameters including sodium imaging, sodium intensity as well as COX activities were drastically decreased. Na-K ATPase showed an increase in responsiveness following TSD. Both heart rate and mean arterial pressure measurements indicated an exaggerated pressor effect following TSD treatment. As proper sodium levels are essential for SCN activation, reduced SCN sodium levels may interrupt the oscillatory control, which could serve as the underlying mechanism for the initiation or development of TSD-related cardiovascular deficiency.

A Hydrosilylation Approach to Silicon-Bridged Functional Dipyrromethanes: Introducing Silicon to A New Arena.

Two silylene-spaced ((E)-vinylsilyl)anthracene-dipyrromethane dyads have been designed and synthesized by RhCl(PPh3 )3 -catalyzed hydrosilylation reactions of 5-methyl-5'-(ethynylaryl)dipyrromethanes with (9-Anthryl)-dimethylsilane. The complexation studies of dyads toward different anions have also been performed, which reveal that dyads exhibit a highly selective response towards fluoride anion attributable to both hydrogen-bonding and pentacoordination phenomena. This dual-mode fluoride recognition event is unprecedented and may pave the way for future developments in the areas of porphyrinoids, organosilicon, polymer, and supramolecular chemistry.

Solvothermal synthesis of facet-dependent BiVO4 photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant: assessment of toxicity by zebrafish embryo.

The BiVO4 photocatalyst plays a very important role in photocatalytic reactions attributed to its unique crystalline structure, size, morphology and surface area. Herein, we report a facet-dependent monoclinic scheelite BiVO4 (m-BiVO4) photocatalyst with uniform truncated square (18 sided) hexagonal bipyramidal shape synthesized by a template-free and surfactant-free solvothermal method using ethylene glycol solvent under cost-effective and mild reactions. The structural, morphological and optical properties of the m-BiVO4 photocatalyst are widely characterized. The photocatalytic activity of the m-BiVO4 photocatalyst is tested towards 20 ppm methylene blue (MB) dye aqueous solution as a pollutant model under visible light irradiation. Enhanced visible-light driven photoactivity with dye degradation efficiency of approx. 91% at a rate of 0.388 × 10-2 min-1 is obtained, presumably due to the presence of high-active (040) facets. Zebrafish embryo toxicity test of treated MB dye solution reveals the degradation and toxicity reduction of the MB dye. Moreover, the recycling experiment validates that the m-BiVO4 photocatalyst has a great structural stability with reliable performance. This work may provide a lucid and expedient strategy to synthesize highly crystalline (040) facet-dependent semiconductor photocatalyst toward dye degradation and obviously industrial wastewater remediation.

Heteroatom doped carbon dots with nanoenzyme like properties as theranostic platforms for free radical scavenging, imaging, and chemotherapy.

Carbon-based artificial nanoenzymes have gained increasing interest as emerging and promising nanotheranostic agents due to their biocompatibility, low cost, and straightforward production. Herein, a multifunctional Mn, N, and S incorporated carbon dots (MnNS:CDs) nanoenzyme exhibiting scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), photoluminescence quantum yield of 17.7%, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast was explored. The optical, magnetic, and antioxidant properties of MnNS:CDs were then regulated by control over Mn incorporation to achieve higher photostability and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, conjugation of MnNS:CDs with hyaluronic acid (HA) (denoted as MnNS:CDs@HA) endowed them with high biocompatibility, which is validated by in vivo studies on zebrafish, and the ability to specifically target cluster determinant 44 (CD44)-overexpressing B16F1 cells, as verified by in vitro confocal and MRI studies. The MnNS:CDs@HA probe with therapeutic antioxidant and dual-modal imaging capability was further assessed for non-covalent binding of doxorubicin (DOX) as a model chemotherapeutic cancer drug. Results showed that targeted delivery and pH-dependent release of DOX elicited apparent cell toxicity (90%) toward B16F1 cancer cells when compared to free DOX treatment group (60%). Benefiting from their intrinsic antioxidant properties, and dual-modal imaging ability, the MnNS:CDs@HA nanocarrier is projected to improve non-invasive targeted diagnosis and therapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Carbon dots (CDs) have gained increasing interest as emerging and promising artificial functional nanomaterials that mimic the structures and functions of natural enzymes. In this work, Mn, N, and S incorporated CDs (MnNS:CDs) were synthesized using a one-pot microwave hydrothermal method to serve as fluorescent and magnetic resonance imaging probes, and catalase mimics in the reduction of the oxidative-stress related damage. Further conjugation of the probes with hyaluronic acid endows them with a good in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility as well as the capability to selectively target CD44-overexpressing cancer cells, as investigated by in vitro fluorescence, and magnetic resonance imaging. The dual-modal nanoprobe was then used to carry on doxorubicin through a non-covalent association. Favorably, targeted delivery, and pH-responsive release of doxorubicin enhanced cell killing efficiency by 50% as opposed to the free doxorubicin treatment group. The presented theranostic heteroatom doped CDs hold great promise for dual-modal imaging enabling accurate diagnosis coupled with therapeutic effect through free radical scavenging and chemotherapy.

Determination of synthetic and natural colorants in selected green colored foodstuffs through reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography.

The current study performed simultaneous identification of semisynthetic chlorophyllin (Cu-Chl) and synthetic food colorants in food matrices. The quantitative assessment of these synthetic and semisynthetic colorants was determined by using analytical method based on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) equipped with UV-visible detection. The concentration of Cu-Chl in hard candy was 3.334 mg/kg and 4.489 mg/kg in the soft candy, while contents of other colorants i.e. Tartrazine and Brilliant Blue were within 4.74-140.284 mg/kg. The extraction of Cu-Chl and synthetic colorants from different food matrixes was performed with a recovery range of 90-97% and RSD of 1-9%. Overall, the current developed RP-HPLC method could detect both green coloured synthetic and semisynthetic food colorants by a single run and could be used for monitoring different colorants in other complex matrices. This is the first report in India to determine Cu-Chl in foodstuffs and beverages by using RP-HPLC with UV-vis detector.

Synthesis of different metallochlorophyllins and quantification in food samples by reversed phase - high performance liquid chromatography.

The complex formation between metals (Ni, Co, Zn, Fe, Pb, Sn and Ag) and natural chlorophyll extracted from green leaves was monitored in the present study. The respective metallochlorophyllin was prepared by the reaction of metal chloride or nitrate (1M) to chlorophyll extracted from Ficus leaves extract. All synthesized metallochlorophyllins were stable and Na-Cu-chlorohyllin (E141) which is permitted to add in food and are listed in European Directive 94/36/EC on food colouring materials, was identified in commercially available food commodities (candies). In this study different synthesized metallochlorophyllins were characterised by using UV-Vis, FT-IR, HPLC, AAS and HR-MS techniques. Many food commodities (i.e. candy, chips, drink, and cream biscuits) were monitored for metallochlorophyllins and Na-Cu-Chlorophyllin was detected only in real candy samples.

Albumin-functionalized CuFeS2/photosensitizer nanohybrid for single-laser-induced folate receptor-targeted photothermal and photodynamic therapy.

Multimodal therapy is an emerging medical intervention to overcome the current limitation in cancer therapy combining treatment modalities with different mechanisms of action to eradicate tumors. This study demonstrates a targeted multifunctional bovine serum albumin (BSA)-functionalized CuFeS2/chlorin e6 (Ce6) for synergistic photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) effects. The CuFeS2 nanocrystals were synthesized through a simple heating-up approach and transferred into an aqueous phase using BSA in an ultrasonic-assisted microemulsion method. The as-prepared CuFeS2@BSA nanoparticles further conjugated with folic acid (FA) followed by attachment of Ce6 to form the Ce6:CuFeS2@BSA-FA nanohybrid with improved solubility and strong near-infrared (NIR) absorbance and fluorescence. It is the first report to fabricate the targeted Ce6:CuFeS2@BSA-FA hybrid and evaluates their synergistic PTT/PDT effect using a single laser. The Ce6:CuFeS2@BSA-FA hybrid showed lower toxicity in vitro (HeLa and HepG2 cells) and in vivo (zebrafish embryos), while they are selectively recognized and internalized by HeLa cells that over-express folate receptors. Compared to each modality applied separately, the combined single-laser-induced PTT and PDT treatment showed the enhanced generation of heat and reactive oxygen species (ROS) with synergistic cancer killing under 671 nm laser irradiation (10 min, 1 W/cm2). As a biocompatible targeted nanoprobe, the multifunctional nanohybrid holds promise in combined PDT/PTT synergistic therapy to achieve better efficacy.

Photosensitizer-conjugated Cu-In-S heterostructured nanorods for cancer targeted photothermal/photodynamic synergistic therapy.

Photo-activated therapy is a non-invasive and promising medical technology for the treatment of cancers. Herein, we present Ce6-HA-CIS phototherapeutic nanohybrids composed of Cu-In-S (CIS) heterostructured nanorod (HS-rod), chlorin e6 (Ce6), and hyaluronic acid (HA) for the use in targeted photodynamic/photothermal therapy (PDT/PTT). In the Ce6-HA-CIS nanohybrids, the CIS HS-rod was investigated as a PTT agent to convert light into thermal energy, with Ce6 acting as a PDT agent to generate singlet oxygen (1O2). HA encapsulated the surface of the CIS HS-rod and aided the hydrophobic CIS HS-rod in achieving aqueous solubility. HA also acts as a tumor-specific targeting vector of cancer cells bearing the cluster determinant 44 receptor. Under light irradiation, the fabricated Ce6-HA-CIS nanohybrids exhibited high photothermal conversion efficiency, good photo-stability, and satisfactory photodynamic activity. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that Ce6-HA-CIS showed low cytotoxicity and synergistic photodynamic and photothermal cancer cell killing effects as compared to PTT or PDT agents alone. Therefore, these phototherapeutic nanohybrids may enhance cancer therapy in future clinical applications.