Acylhydrazone-based reversibly photoswitchable ion pair transporter with OFF-ON cotransport activity.

The cellular membrane transport of physiologically important cations and anions is omnipresent and regulates different physiological functions. Whereas a notable number of cation-anion transporters are being developed to transport salts across the membrane, developing an artificial cation-anion symporter with stimulus-responsive activities is an immense obstacle. Herein, for the first time, we report reversibly photoswitchable acylhydrazone-based transporter 2 that has distinctive OFF-ON cation-anion co-transport abilities.

Unveiling the potent activity of a synthetic ion transporter against multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria and biofilms.

The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria poses a significant threat to public healthcare. These pathogens exhibit not only smart resistance mechanisms but also form impenetrable biofilms on various surfaces, rendering them resilient to conventional therapies. In this study, we present the potent antibacterial activity of a synthetic ion transporter T against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-positive pathogens, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.

Photocontrolled activation of doubly -nitrobenzyl-protected small molecule benzimidazoles leads to cancer cell death.

Artificial biomimetic chloride anionophores have shown promising applications as anticancer scaffolds. Importantly, stimuli-responsive chloride transporters that can be selectively activated inside the cancer cells to avoid undesired toxicity to normal, healthy cells are very rare. Particularly, light-responsive systems promise better applicability for photodynamic therapy because of their spatiotemporal controllability, low toxicity, and high tunability.

Blue-emitting InP quantum dots participate in an efficient resonance energy transfer process in water.

Development of stable blue-emitting materials has always been a challenging task because of the necessity of high crystal quality and good optical properties. We have developed a highly efficient blue-emitter, based on environmentally friendly indium phosphide/zinc sulphide quantum dots (InP/ZnS QDs) in water, by controlling the growth kinetics of the core as well as the shell. A rational combination of less-reactive metal-halides, phosphorus, and sulphur precursors is the key for achieving the uniform growth of the InP core and ZnS shell.

A bis-NHC-CAAC dimer derived dicationic diradical.

The isolation of carbon-centered diradicals is always challenging due to synthetic difficulties and their limited stability. Herein we report the synthesis of a -1,4-cyclohexylene bridged bis-NHC-CAAC dimer derived thermally stable dicationic diradical. The diradical character of this compound was confirmed by EPR spectroscopy.

Selective and rapid water transportation across a self-assembled peptide-diol channel the formation of a dual water array.

Achieving superfast water transport by using synthetically designed molecular artifacts, which exclude salts and protons, is a challenging task in separation science today, as it requires the concomitant presence of a proper water-binding site and necessary selectivity filter for transporting water. Here, we demonstrate the water channel behavior of two configurationally different peptide diol isomers that mimic the natural water channel system, , aquaporins. The solid-state morphology studies showed the formation of a self-assembled aggregated structure, and X-ray crystal structure analysis confirmed the formation of a nanotubular assembly that comprises two distinct water channels.

Leveraging an enzyme/artificial substrate system to enhance cellular persulfides and mitigate neuroinflammation.

Persulfides and polysulfides, collectively known as the sulfane sulfur pool along with hydrogen sulfide (HS), play a central role in cellular physiology and disease. Exogenously enhancing these species in cells is an emerging therapeutic paradigm for mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation that are associated with several diseases. In this study, we present a unique approach of using the cell's own enzyme machinery coupled with an array of artificial substrates to enhance the cellular sulfane sulfur pool.

Solvate sponge crystals of (DMF)NaClO: reversible pressure/temperature controlled juicing in a melt/press-castable sodium-ion conductor.

A new type of crystalline solid, termed "solvate sponge crystal", is presented, and the chemical basis of its properties are explained for a melt- and press-castable solid sodium ion conductor. X-ray crystallography and atomistic simulations reveal details of atomic interactions and clustering in (DMF)NaClO and (DMF)NaClO (DMF = '-dimethylformamide). External pressure or heating results in reversible expulsion of liquid DMF from (DMF)NaClO to generate (DMF)NaClO.

Apoptosis-inducing activity of a fluorescent barrel-rosette M/Cl channel.

Synthetic transmembrane ion transport systems are emerging as new tools for anticancer therapy. Here, a series of 2-hydroxy- , -diarylisophthalamide-based fluorescent ion channel-forming compounds are reported. Ion transport studies across large unilamellar vesicles confirmed that the compound with two 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl arms is the most efficient transporter among the series and it facilitates M/Cl symport.