Photo-induced ultralong phosphorescence of carbon dots for thermally sensitive dynamic patterning.

Stimuli-responsive films with a dynamic long afterglow feature have received considerable attention in the field of optical materials. Herein, we report the unique dynamic ultralong room temperature phosphorescence (URTP) in flexible solid films made of luminescent carbon dots (CDs) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Impressively, fully reversible photo-activation and thermal deactivation of the dynamic long afterglow was achieved in this material, with a lifetime on-off ratio exceeding 3900.

Polymer-Covalent Organic Frameworks Composites for Glucose and pH Dual-Responsive Insulin Delivery in Mice.

Glucose and pH dual-responsive insulin delivery carriers that have been validated in animal models, remain elusive and much desired. Herein, a new class of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)-based insulin delivery nanocarriers is developed by encapsulating insulin (Ins) and glucose oxidase (GOx) into COFs (COF-1 and COF-5) via both Brønsted and Lewis type (N:→B) complexations. Subsequently, polyethylene glycolated fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC-PEG) is incorporated into the COFs via the exchange reactions between the disulfide in insulin chains and the thiol in FITC-PEG to afford a robust nano-assembly (FITC-PEG-COF@Ins-GOx).

pH-responsive PEG-chitosan/iron oxide hybrid nanoassemblies for low-power assisted PDT/PTT combination therapy.

To develop a hybrid nanoassembly platform using PEG-chitosan/iron oxide nanoparticles for effective low-power assisted photodynamic/photothermal combination therapy. The hybrid nanoassemblies (NAs) were firstly fabricated by self-assembling chitosan and iron oxide nanoparticles, following which their surfaces were modified with polyethylene glycolated triphenylphosphine and loaded with methylene blue (MB) photosensitizer. The physical characteristics and phototherapy effects of these NAs were evaluated.

Rational synthesis of highly efficient ultra-narrow red-emitting carbon quantum dots for NIR-II two-photon bioimaging.

Despite the growing research interest in highly bio-compatible carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for bioimaging, the synthesis of red-emitting CQDs with high photoluminescence efficiency and a sharp emission spectrum remains a formidable challenge in this field. Herein, we established a rational strategy for the synthesis of highly efficient ultra-narrow red-emitting CQDs by adopting a conjugated aromatic amine precursor (tris(4-aminophenyl)amine, TAPA) and introducing oxidative radical reagents. The resultant CQDs, T-CQDs featured red PL (615 ± 2 nm) with a high photoluminescence quantum yield (84 ± 5%) and a narrow emission linewidth (FWHM = 27 ± 1 nm), which together represented one of the highest levels in the field of CQDs so far.

Lifetime-tunable room-temperature phosphorescence of polyaniline carbon dots in adjustable polymer matrices.

Despite the excellent room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) property of carbon dot (CD)-based RTP composites, the development of these emerging materials with finely tunable afterglow lifetimes still remains a challenge. Herein, for the first time, we report a series of pure organic RTP composite materials based on adjustable polyaniline carbon dots (PACDs) and polymer matrices (polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, and polyvinyl alcohol) with tunable RTP lifetimes. By using different polymer matrices and adjusting the functional groups of PACDs, the strength of hydrogen bonding between each polymer matrix and PACDs was regulated, and green RTP emissions with a tunable average lifetime ranging from 184 ms to 652 ms were also realized.

Room temperature synthesis of pH-switchable polyaniline quantum dots as a turn-on fluorescent probe for acidic biotarget labeling.

The synthesis of well-defined light-element-derived quantum dots (LEQDs) with advanced optical properties under mild conditions is highly desirable yet challenging. Here, a polyaniline (PANI) structure is introduced into carbon-rich LEQDs to yield well-defined, fluorescent polyaniline quantum dots (PAQDs), PAQD24, through a one-pot room temperature reaction. The mild synthetic conditions effectively minimize the defects introduced during the conventional synthesis and endow PAQD24 with desirable optical properties, including a narrow emission band (full width at half maximum = 55 nm), an optimal quantum yield of 32.

Secondary structure-induced aggregation by hydrogen peroxide: a stimuli-triggered open/close implementation by recombination.

The fabrication of reactive aggregation nanomaterials through assemblies in a facile and cost-effective manner is much desired but remains to be well explored. Here we show that exquisite and ultra-long (>2 μm) hybrid polymer nanorods (NRs) can be formed by a simple self-assembly of a phenylboronic acid modified genistein crosslinker (Ge-di(HMPBA-pin)) and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 (TPGS). The obtained NRs exhibit quantitative and sensitive colorimetric detection of HO with a remarkable detection limit for different stromal materials.