Pillared Carbon Membranes Derived from Cardo Polymers.

Carbon molecular sieve membranes (CMSMs) were prepared by carbonizing the high free volume polyimide BTDA-BAF that is obtained from the reaction of benzophenone-3,3',4,4'-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA) and 9,9-bis(4-aminophenyl) fluorene (BAF). The bulky cardo groups prevented a tight packing and rotation of the chains that leads to high permeabilities of their CMSMs. The incorporation of metal-organic polyhedra 18 (MOP-18, a copper-based MOP) in the BTDA-BAF polymer before pyrolysis at 550 °C prevented the collapse of the pores and the aging of the CMSMs.

Intracellular delivery of virus-like particles using a sheddable linker.

Intracellular targeting is essential for the efficient delivery of drugs and nanotherapeutics. Transporting nanomaterials into cells' cytoplasm for therapeutic purposes can be challenging due to the endosomal trap and lysosomal degradation of cargo. To overcome this issue, we utilized chemical synthesis to design a functional carrier that can escape the endosome and deliver biological materials into the cytoplasm.

Synthesis of Fluoro-Bridged Ho and Gd 1,3,5-Tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene Metal-Organic Frameworks from Perfluoroalkyl Substances.

A new fluoro-bridged rare-earth (RE) metal-organic framework consisting of 15-connected nonanuclear and 9-connected trinuclear clusters {[RE-(μ-F)(HO)][RE(μ-F)(HO)](HCO)-(BTB)}·(solvent)x (RE = Ho and Gd) was synthesized through the transformation of a dimeric complex formulated as bis(2,2'-bipyridine)tetrakis(μ-2-fluorobenzoato-,')-bis(2-fluorobenzoato)diRE(III) with the bridging linker 1,3,5-tris(4-carboxyphenyl)benzene (HBTB). The rare-earth metal ions Ho and Gd were also found to remove fluorine from other organo-fluorine compounds such as perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), resulting in the new fluoro-bridged RE-MOFs.

Fluorine extraction from organofluorine molecules to make fluorinated clusters in yttrium MOFs.

A new rare earth based two-dimensional coordination network and a three-dimensional metal-organic framework (MOF) have been synthesized using bicinchoninic acid (BCA) and yttrium(iii) ions. Yttrium dimer nodes are formed in the absence of a modulator, resulting in a 2D layered coordination network (Y-BCA-2D). The presence of fluorinating agents, , 2-fluorobenzoic acid (2-FBA), 2,6-difluorobenzoic acid (2,6-DFBA), and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) result in μ-F bridged metal hexaclusters (YF) that form a three-dimensional MOF (Y-BCA-3D).

Fluoro-Bridged Clusters in Rare-Earth Metal-Organic Frameworks.

The modulator 2-fluorobenzoic acid (2-fba) is widely used to prepare RE clusters in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). In contrast to known RE MOF structures containing hydroxide bridging groups, we report for the first time the possible presence of fluoro bridging groups in RE MOFs. In this report we discuss the synthesis of a holmium-UiO-66 analogue as well as a novel holmium MOF, where evidence of fluorinated clusters is observed.

Supramolecular and biomacromolecular enhancement of metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents.

Many contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging are based on gadolinium, however side effects limit their use in some patients. Organic radical contrast agents (ORCAs) are potential alternatives, but are reduced rapidly in physiological conditions and have low relaxivities as single molecule contrast agents. Herein, we use a supramolecular strategy where cucurbit[8]uril binds with nanomolar affinities to ORCAs and protects them against biological reductants to create a stable radical .