Fine-tuning the sequential drug release of nano-formulated mutual prodrugs dictates the combination effects.

The maintenance of robust ratiometric loading of dual therapeutic agents and fine-tuning release kinetics for consistent and optimization of combination effects is vital for discovering new anticancer drug combinations and remains challenging. Smart nanomedicine strategies have been investigated for this purpose, but most of the reported strategies focus either on ratiometric delivery or on unimodal sequential release of the two different agents, which hampers effective optimization of combination effects. Herein we report a sequential drug release system based on nanoformulated mutual prodrugs constructed by the formation of ketal linkages with different acid sensitivities, thus enabling the acid-triggered release of two anticancer drugs, paclitaxel and gemcitabine, in various sequences.

Effect of LLZO on the polymerization of acrylate solid-state electrolytes on cathodes.

The comprehensive performance of the state-of-the-art solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) cannot match the requirements of commercial applications, and constructing an organic-inorganic composite electrolyte on a porous electrode is an effective coping strategy. However, there are few studies focused on the influence of inorganic ceramics on the polymerization of multi-organic components. In this study, it was found that the addition of LiLaZrTaO (LLZO) weakens the interaction between different polymers and makes organic and inorganic components contact directly in the solid electrolyte.

Activation of perfluoroalkyl iodides by anions: extending the scope of halogen bond activation to C(sp)-H amidation, C(sp)-H iodination, and perfluoroalkylation reactions.

A simple, efficient, and convenient activation of perfluoroalkyl iodides by BuONa or KOH, without expensive photo- or transition metal catalysts, allows the promotion of versatile α-sp C-H amidation reactions of alkyl ethers and benzylic hydrocarbons, C-H iodination of heteroaryl compounds, and perfluoroalkylations of electron-rich π bonds. Mechanistic studies show that these novel protocols are based on the halogen bond interaction between perfluoroalkyl iodides and BuONa or KOH, which promote homolysis of perfluoroalkyl iodides under mild conditions.

An protonation-activated supramolecular self-assembly for selective suppression of tumor growth.

An supramolecular self-assembly in the subcellular organelles could provide a new strategy to treat diseases. Herein, we report a protonation-activated supramolecular self-assembly system in the lysosomes, which could destabilize the lysosome membrane, resulting in the selective suppression of cancer cells. In this system, pyridyl-functionalized tetraphenylethylene (TPE-Py) was protonated in the lysosomes of A549 lung cancer cells to form octahedron-like structures with cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), which impaired the integrity of the lysosome membrane, resulting in selective suppression of cancer cells.

Highly bioresistant, hydrophilic and rigidly linked trityl-nitroxide biradicals for cellular high-field dynamic nuclear polarization.

Cellular dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) has been an effective means of overcoming the intrinsic sensitivity limitations of solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy, thus enabling atomic-level biomolecular characterization in native environments. Achieving DNP signal enhancement relies on doping biological preparations with biradical polarizing agents (PAs). Unfortunately, PA performance within cells is often limited by their sensitivity to the reductive nature of the cellular lumen.

Precisely synthesized LiF-tipped CoF-nanorod heterostructures improve energy storage capacities.

CoF, with a relatively high theoretical capacity (553 mA h g), has been attracting increasing attention in the energy storage field. However, a facile and controllable synthesis of monodispersed CoF and CoF-based nano-heterostructures have been rarely reported. In this direction, an eco-friendly and precisely controlled colloidal synthesis strategy to grow uniformly sized CoF nanorods and LiF-tipped CoF-nanorod heterostructures based on a seeded-growth method is established.

Enhanced cycling stability and rate capability of a graphene-supported commercialized Vat Blue 4 anode for advanced Li-ion batteries.

Commercialized Vat Blue 4 (VB4) has attracted more attention as a promising anode for large-scale applications in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) due to its high electrochemical activity, low price, and large-scale production. However, its moderate solubility results in severe capacity decay and low utilization of active components. Herein, we present a graphene-supported VB4 composite (VB4/rGO) prepared by a facile sonication and hydrothermal process for long cycling stability and high-rate capability.

Bismuth nanoparticles embedded in a carbon skeleton as an anode for high power density potassium-ion batteries.

Bismuth is a promising anode for potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) due to its suitable redox potential, large theoretical capacity, and superior electronic conductivity. Herein, we report a Bi@C (Bi nanoparticles uniformly embedded in a carbon skeleton) composite anode which delivers a superior rate performance of 244.3 mA h g at 10.

Novel Janus MoSiGeN nanosheet: adsorption behaviour and sensing performance for NO and NO gas molecules.

A novel Janus MoSiGeN nanosheet is proposed for detecting poisonous gas molecules. Herein, the adsorption behaviour and sensing performance of both sides of the MoSiGeN monolayer to NO and NO gas molecules were investigated by first-principles calculations. Firstly, it is found that the MoSiGeN monolayer exhibits structural stability and indirect gap semiconductor characteristics.

Introduction to 'Synthesis and chemical biology of macrocycles'.

Gong Chen, Monika Raj and Andrei Yudin introduce the themed collection on the 'Synthesis and chemical biology of macrocycles'.

Rational design of a dual-reactive probe for imaging the biogenesis of both HS and GSH from l-Cys rather than d-Cys in live cells.

Biothiols and their interconversion are involved in cellular redox homeostasis as well as many physiological processes. Here, a dual-reactive dual-quenching fluorescent probe was rationally developed based on thiolysis reactions of 7-nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD) tertiary amine and 7-cyanobenzoxadiazole (CBD) arylether for imaging of the biothiol interconversion. We demonstrate that the NBD-CBD probe exhibits very weak background fluorescence due to the dual-quenching effects, and can be dual-activated by HS and GSH with an over 500-fold fluorescence increase at 525 nm.

Iron-catalysed hydroalumination of internal alkynes.

Although research on iron-catalysed reactions has recently achieved significant progress, the activity and selectivity of iron catalysts are generally inferior to those of noble-metal catalysts. The development of new iron-catalysed reactions, especially those in which iron catalysts exhibit superior activity or selectivity to other catalysts, is the key to promote iron catalysis. Herein, we report the first protocol for iron-catalysed hydroalumination of internal alkynes.

Controlled synthesis of open-mouthed epitope-imprinted polymer nanocapsules with a PEGylated nanocore and their application for fluorescence detection of target protein.

Epitope imprinting is an effective way to create artificial receptors for protein recognition. Surface imprinting with immobilized templates and sacrificial supports can generate high-quality imprinted cavities of homogeneous orientation and good accessibility, but it is still challenging to fabricate nanoscale imprinted materials by this approach. Herein, we propose a method for the controlled synthesis of open-mouthed epitope-imprinted polymer nanocapsules (OM-MIP NCs) by limiting the imprinting polymerization on the template-bearing side of the Janus nanoparticles (JNPs).

Stereodivergent synthesis of enantioenriched azepino[3,4,5-]-indoles cooperative Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction.

The development of enantioselective annulation reactions using readily available substrates for the construction of structurally and stereochemically diverse heterocycles is a compelling topic in diversity-oriented synthesis. Herein, we report efficient catalytic asymmetric formal 1,3-dipolar (3 + 4) cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with 4-indolyl allylic carbonates for the construction of azepino[3,4,5-]-indoles fused with a challenging seven-membered N-heterocycle, a frequently occurring tricyclic indole scaffold in bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. Through cooperative Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation followed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction, an array of azepino[3,4,5-]-indoles were obtained in good yields with excellent diastereo-/enantioselective control.

Synthesis of ppy-MgO-CNT nanocomposites for multifunctional applications.

Cotton is one of the most important raw materials for textile and clothing production. The main drawbacks of cotton fibers are their poor mechanical properties and high flammability. Compared with some synthetic polymer fibers, cotton fabrics treated with modern flame-retardant and reinforcement finishes often cannot meet rigid military specifications.

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives.

The recent promising applications of deuterium-labeled pharmaceutical compounds have led to an urgent need for the efficient synthetic methodologies that site-specifically incorporate a deuterium atom into bioactive molecules. Nevertheless, precisely building a deuterium-containing stereogenic center, which meets the requirement for optimizing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties of chiral drug candidates, remains a significant challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, a catalytic asymmetric strategy combining H/D exchange (H/D-Ex) and azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) was developed for the construction of biologically important enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities and uniformly high levels of deuterium incorporation.

Bridging D-A type photosensitizers with the azo group to boost intersystem crossing for efficient photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has attracted much attention in disease treatments. However, the exploration of a novel method for the construction of outstanding photosensitizers (PSs) with stimuli-responsiveness remains challenging. In this study, we, for the first time, report a novel and effective strategy to boost reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by bridging donor-acceptor (D-A) type PSs with the azo group.

High-performance all-solid-state electrolyte for sodium batteries enabled by the interaction between the anion in salt and NaSbS.

All-solid-state sodium batteries with poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrolytes have shown great promise for large-scale energy storage applications. However, the reported PEO-based electrolytes still suffer from a low Na transference number and poor ionic conductivity, which mainly result from the simultaneous migration of Na and anions, the high crystallinity of PEO, and the low concentration of free Na. Here, we report a high-performance PEO-based all-solid-state electrolyte for sodium batteries by introducing NaSbS to interact with the TFSI anion in the salt and decrease the crystallinity of PEO.

Correction: The morphology and surface charge-dependent cellular uptake efficiency of upconversion nanostructures revealed by single-particle optical microscopy.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1039/C8SC01828F.].

Spirocyclic side chain of a non-fullerene acceptor enables efficient organic solar cells with reduced recombination loss and energetic disorder.

Suppressing intramolecular vibration of non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) by molecular rigidification has been proven to be an effective way to reduce the non-radiative recombination loss and energetic disorder of organic solar cells (OSCs). Thus far, extensive attention has been drawn on rigidifying the fused-ring backbones of NFAs, whereas the highly flexible alkyl side chains are barely concerned. Herein, an effective strategy of side chain rigidification by introducing a spiro-ring is developed for the first time and applied to construct the NFA of Spiro-F.

Phenanthroline-imine ligands for iron-catalyzed alkene hydrosilylation.

Iron-catalyzed organic reactions have been attracting increasing research interest but still have serious limitations on activity, selectivity, functional group tolerance, and stability relative to those of precious metal catalysts. Progress in this area will require two key developments: new ligands that can impart new reactivity to iron catalysts and elucidation of the mechanisms of iron catalysis. Herein, we report the development of novel 2-imino-9-aryl-1,10-phenanthrolinyl iron complexes that catalyze both -Markovnikov hydrosilylation of terminal alkenes and 1,2--Markovnikov hydrosilylation of various conjugated dienes.

Optimizing the quasi-equilibrium state of hot carriers in all-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals through Mn doping: fundamental dynamics and device perspectives.

Hot carrier (HC) cooling accounts for the significant energy loss in lead halide perovskite (LHP) solar cells. Here, we study HC relaxation dynamics in Mn-doped LHP CsPbI nanocrystals (NCs), combining transient absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. We demonstrate that Mn doping (1) enlarges the longitudinal optical (LO)-acoustic phonon bandgap, (2) enhances the electron-LO phonon coupling strength, and (3) adds HC relaxation pathways Mn orbitals within the bands.

Asymmetric synthesis of N-N axially chiral compounds organocatalytic atroposelective -acylation.

Compared with the well-developed C-C and C-N axial chirality, the asymmetric synthesis of N-N axial chirality remains elusive and challenging. Herein we report the first atroposelective -acylation reaction of quinazolinone type benzamides with cinnamic anhydrides for the direct catalytic synthesis of optically active atropisomeric quinazolinone derivatives. This reaction features mild conditions and a broad substrate scope and produces N-N axially chiral compounds with high yields and very good enantioselectivities.