Magnetically functionalized mesoporous silica spheres with different size (average diameter, A.D.) from 150 nm to 2 μm and pore size distribution were synthesized by generating magnetic Fe x O y ...nanoparticles onto the mesoporous silica hosts using the sol−gel method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), N2 adsorption/desorption results show that these composites conserved regular sphere morphology and ordered mesoporous structure after the formation of Fe x O y nanoparticles. XRD and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed that the Fe x O y generated in these mesoporous silica hosts is mainly composed of γ-Fe2O3. Magnetic measurements reveal that these composites with different γ-Fe2O3 loading amounts possess super-paramagnetic properties at 300 K, and the saturation magnetization increases with increasing Fe ratio loaded. The ibuprofen-containing spheres were then coated with biodegradable poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) by the S/O/W single-emulsion method. The PLGA hybrid magnetic spheres realize a reduced initial burst with a sustained release stage lasting for 20 days. These composites with or without the PLGA can be used as potential vectors for drug targeting and controlled-release systems.
In order to establish a set of perfect heterojunction designs and characterization schemes, step‐scheme (S‐scheme) BiOBr@Bi2S3 nanoheterojunctions that enable the charge separation and expand the ...scope of catalytic reactions, aiming to promote the development and improvement of heterojunction engineering is developed. In this kind of heterojunction system, the Fermi levels mediate the formation of the internal electric field at the interface and guide the recombination of the weak redox carriers, while the strong redox carriers are retained. Thus, these high‐energy electrons and holes are able to catalyze a variety of substrates in the tumor microenvironment, such as the reduction of oxygen and carbon dioxide to superoxide radicals and carbon monoxide (CO), and the oxidation of H2O to hydroxyl radicals, thus achieving sonodynamic therapy and CO combined therapy. Mechanistically, the generated reactive oxygen species and CO damage DNA and inhibit cancer cell energy levels, respectively, to synergistically induce tumor cell apoptosis. This study provides new insights into the realization of high efficiency and low toxicity in catalytic therapy from a unique perspective of materials design. It is anticipated that this catalytic therapeutic method will garner significant interest in the sonocatalytic nanomedicine field.
An interface‐engineered S‐scheme heterojunction based on BiOBr@Bi2S3 nanocomposite is developed to prolong the life span of sonoexcited electrons and holes, expand the selectivity of catalytic substrates and therapeutic products, and promote tumor catalytic therapy. Moreover, its proof‐of‐concept application becomes a new SDT and CO combination therapy platform based on heterojunction.
In this article, monodisperse spherical zirconia (ZrO2) particles with a narrow size distribution were prepared by the controlled hydrolysis of zirconium butoxide in ethanol, followed by heat ...treatment in air at low temperature from 300 to 500 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectra, kinetic decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance were used to characterize the samples. The experimental results indicate that the annealed ZrO2 samples exhibit broad, intense visible photoluminescence. The annealing temperature is indispensable for the luminescence of the obtained ZrO2 particles. The emission colors of the ZrO2 samples can be tuned from blue to nearly white to dark orange by varying the annealing temperature. According to the spectral analysis, luminescence lifetimes, and EPR results, the luminescent centers might be attributed to the carbon impurities in the ZrO2 samples. The possible luminescence mechanism for ZrO2 samples has been presented in detail.
The design and synthesis of multifunctional nanocarriers for efficient synergistic cancer therapy have drawn great research interests in recent years. In this work, a nanoplatform for ...chemo-photothermal therapy with targeting ligand was developed. Hollow porous structured silica nanotubes (SNTs) with controllable lengths decorated with CuS nanoparticles (NPs) on the surface as photothermal agents were prepared and further conjugated with lactobionic acid groups as a cancer cell target. SNTs with average lengths of 40, 55 and 150 nm were obtained and further functionalized as drug carriers. The smallest bifunctional SNTs with targeting groups show good biocompatibility and highest cellular uptake for HepG2 cells. The release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) from the SNTs was dependent on the pH of the buffer solution and 808-nm near infrared (NIR) light irradiation. The integration of photothermal therapy (PTT) of CuS NPs and chemotherapy of anticancer drug leads to a better tumor inhibition effect than the individual therapy alone
in vitro
and
in vivo.
These results demonstrate potential applications of the nanocomposites as vector for efficient chemo-photothermal therapy.
Many efforts have been devoted to exploring novel luminescent materials that do not contain expensive or toxic elements, or do not need mercury vapor plasma as the excitation source. In this paper, ...amorphous Al2O3 powder samples were prepared via the Pechini-type sol−gel process. The resulting samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), photoluminescence (PL) excitation and emission spectra, kinetic decay, and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The obtained amorphous Al2O3 powder samples annealed at 500 and 600 °C exhibit bright bluish-white emission centered at 430 and 407 nm, respectively. The luminescent mechanisms of the amorphous Al2O3 powder samples can be ascribed to the carbon-related impurities such as radical carbonyl species. The calculated band structure of the defective amorphous Al2O3 agrees well with the results of spectral analysis and the proposed luminescent mechanism.
The emission intensities of Eu3+ in the drug carrier system vary with the released amount of IBU, making the drug release easily tracked and monitored. Display omitted
► Luminescent and mesoporous ...europium-doped calcium silicates were synthesized. ► The system exhibits luminescence of Eu3+ under UV irradiation after the drug loading. ► The drug release situation can be tracked by the change of the luminescence intensity.
Luminescent, mesoporous, and bioactive europium-doped calcium silicate (MCS: Eu) was successfully synthesized. The obtained MCS: Eu3+ was performed as a drug delivery carrier to investigate the drug storage/release properties using ibuprofen (IBU) as the model drug. The structural, morphological, textural, and optical properties were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 adsorption/desorption, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. The results reveal that the MCS: Eu exhibits the typical ordered characteristics of the mesostructure. This composite shows a sustained release profile with IBU as the model drug. The IBU-loaded samples still present red luminescence of Eu3+ (5D0–7F1,2) under UV irradiation. The emission intensities of Eu3+ in the drug carrier system vary with the amount of released IBU, making the drug release easily tracked and monitored. The system demonstrates a great potential for drug delivery and disease therapy.
The in situ polymerization method was applied to synthesize bulk nanocomposites consisting of hydrophobic NaYF(4):Yb, Er (Tm) nanoparticles as the filler and polystyrene (PS) as the host material. ...The oleic acid stabilized NaYF(4):Yb, Er (Tm) nanoparticles and NaYF(4):Yb, Er (Tm)/PS nanocomposites have been well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), upconversion photoluminescence spectra and luminescence decays. The well-crystallized NaYF(4):Yb, Er (Tm) nanoparticles are spherical with a mean diameter of 40 nm. NaYF(4):Yb, Er/PS and NaYF(4):Yb, Tm/PS nanocomposites exhibit strong green and blue upconversion photoluminescence upon 980 nm laser excitation, due to the integration of luminescent NaYF(4):Yb, Er and NaYF(4):Yb, Tm nanoparticles, respectively. These nanocomposites can be potentially used as 3D display materials.
The development of highly efficient, multifunctional, and biocompatible sonosensitizer is still a priority for current sonodynamic therapy (SDT). Herein, a defect‐rich Ti‐based metal–organic ...framework (MOF) (D‐MOF(Ti)) with greatly improved sonosensitizing effect is simply constructed and used for enhanced SDT. Compared with the commonly used sonosensitizer TiO2, D‐MOF(Ti) results in a superior reactive oxygen species (ROS) yield under ultrasound (US) irradiation due to its narrow bandgap, which principally improves the US‐triggered electron–hole separation. Meanwhile, due to the existence of Ti3+ ions, D‐MOF(Ti) also exhibits a high level of Fenton‐like activity to enable chemodynamic therapy. Particularly, US as the excitation source of SDT can simultaneously enhance the Fenton‐like reaction to achieve remarkably synergistic outcomes for oncotherapy. More importantly, D‐MOF(Ti) can be degraded and metabolized out of the body after completion of its therapeutic functions without off‐target toxicity. Overall, this work identifies a novel Ti‐familial sonosensitizer harboring great potential for synergistic sonodynamic and chemodynamic cancer therapy.
A defect‐rich Ti‐based metal–organic framework (MOF) (D‐MOF(Ti)) is successfully constructed by simple hydrogenation and serves as a new generation of robust sonosensitizer for enhanced sonodynamic therapy. Moreover, it also exhibits a high level of Fenton‐like activity to amplify production of reactive oxygen species under ultrasound irradiation. Besides, the degradability of D‐MOF(Ti) is a bright spot for promoting its clinical transformation.
Rational design of biocompatible nanoplatforms simultaneously realizing multimodal imaging and therapeutic functions is meaningful to cancer treatment. Herein, the MoS2–CuO heteronanocomposites are ...designed by integrating semiconductor CuO and flower-like MoS2 via a two-step hydrothermal method. After loading bovine serum albumin (BSA) and immunoadjuvant imiquimod (R837), the obtained MoS2–CuO@BSA/R837 (MCBR) nanoplatforms realize the excellent computed tomography/infrared thermal/magnetic resonance multi-mode bioimaging as well as significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy of synergetic photothermal therapy (PTT)/chemodynamic therapy (CDT)/immunotherapy. In this nanoplatform, the semiconductor CuO exhibits peroxidase-like activity, which can react with over-expressed H2O2 in tumor microenvironment (TME) to generate OH for CDT via Haber-Weiss and Fenton-like reactions. And this process can be further accelerated by the generated heat of MoS2 under 808 nm laser irradiation. More importantly, the obtained multifunctional MCBR nanoplatforms under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation would destroy tumor cells to generate tumor associated antigens (TAAs), which combine with R837 as an adjuvant to trigger strong antitumor immune responses for effectively eliminating primary tumors and metastatic tumors.
Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) activated by ultrasound is attractive as a potential alternative to conventional phototriggered therapies owing to the deeper penetration depth and the absence of ...phototoxicity. Nevertheless, the low quantum yield of nano‐sonosensitizer and the tumor hypoxia remain significant challenges for SDT. Herein, a novel TiO2‐based nano‐sonosensitizer is reported to bilaterally enhance the quantum yield by simultaneous integration of precious metal Pt nanoparticles (NPs) and an oxygen‐deficient layer. Furthermore, the hollow cavity of TiO2 serves as a reservoir to load doxorubicin, an anticancer drug for chemotherapy as well as a molecular sonosensitizer for SDT. The decorated Pt NPs act as nanozymes to catalyze the decomposition of endogenous hydrogen peroxide for the generation of oxygen to alleviate tumor hypoxia, reduce resistance to chemotherapy, and provide sufficient oxygen source for subsequently facilitating SDT‐induced reactive oxygen species production. The high chemo‐sonodynamic synergistic efficacy is systematically demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. More importantly, it is believed that the novel design and the new finding in the synthesis of Pt–TiO2 heterostructures can be popularized for the preparation and application of the semiconductor‐based nanoplatforms in many fields.
A novel Pt–TiO2 heterostructure is successfully constructed by simultaneous integration of noble metal Pt and an oxygen‐deficient layer to the TiO2 surface to bilaterally enhance the sonodynamic therapy effect. Meanwhile, with the assistance of Pt nanozyme and anticancer drugs as well as molecular sonosensitizer doxorubicin, the nanosystem achieves a strong synergistic therapeutic effect for oncotherapy.
PDF
