Good Monodispersity Research Articles

A spherical covalent-organic framework for enhancing laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry for small molecule detection.

A spherical vinyl-functionalized covalent-organic framework (COF-V) was prepared at room temperature by a facile method and applied as a novel substrate for surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS). Compared with conventional organic matrices, the spherical COF-V with high crystallinity and good monodispersity exhibited high sensitivity, no matrix background interference, wide-range applicability, high salt tolerance and reproducibility in the characterization of small molecules. Considering these advantages, the applicability of the spherical COF-V-based SELDI-MS method was successfully demonstrated by determining trace amounts of glucose in diabetic urine, which would be a promising candidate for clinical diagnosis of diabetes. In addition, the morphological effect and the desorption/ionization mechanism of the COF-V were investigated in detail and the results indicated that the spherical COF-V substrate could greatly enhance the LDI process compared with the bulk COF-V. This work not only extends the application of COFs in MS, but also offers a promising alternative for small molecule identification and clinical diagnosis of diabetes.

PH-responsive DNA nanomicelles for chemo-gene synergetic therapy of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Chemo-gene therapy is an emerging synergetic modality for the treatment of cancers. Herein, we developed pH-responsive multifunctional DNA nanomicelles (DNMs) as delivery vehicles for controllable release of doxorubicin (Dox) and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-specific siRNA for the chemo-gene synergetic therapy of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).Methods: DNMs were synthesized by performing in situ rolling circle amplification (RCA) on the amphiphilic primer-polylactide (PLA) micelles, followed by functionalization of pH-responsive triplex DNA via complementary base pairing. The anticancer drug Dox and ALK-specific siRNA were co-loaded to construct Dox/siRNA/DNMs for chemo-gene synergetic cancer therapy. When exposed to the acidic microenvironment (pH below 5.0), C-G·C+ triplex structures were formed, leading to the release of Dox and siRNA for gene silencing to enhance the chemosensitivity in ALCL K299 cells. The chemo-gene synergetic anticancer effect of Dox/siRNA/DNMs on ALCL was evaluated in vitro and in vivo.Results: The pH-responsive DNMs exhibited good monodispersity at different pH values, good biocompatibility, high drug loading capacity, and excellent stability even in the human serum. With the simultaneous release of anticancer drug Dox and ALK-specific siRNA in response to pH in the tumor microenvironment, the Dox/siRNA/DNMs demonstrated significantly higher treatment efficacy for ALCL compared with chemotherapy alone, because the silencing of ALK gene expression mediated by siRNA increased the chemosensitivity of ALCL cells. From the pathological analysis of tumor tissue, the Dox/siRNA/DNMs exhibited the superiority in inhibiting tumor growth, low toxic side effects and good biosafety.Conclusion: DNMs co-loaded with Dox and ALK-specific siRNA exhibited significantly enhanced apoptosis of ALCL K299 cells in vitro and effectively inhibited tumor growth in vivo without obvious toxicity, providing a potential strategy in the development of nanomedicines for synergetic cancer therapy.

Controllable Synthesis of All Inorganic Lead Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals with Various Appearances in Multiligand Reaction System.

All inorganic cesium lead halide (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) exhibit promising applications in light-emitting devices due to their excellent photophysical properties. Herein, we developed a low-cost and convenient method for the preparation of CsPbX3 PNCs in a multiligand-assisted reaction system where peanut oil is applied as a ligand source. The mixed-halide PNCs with tunable optical-band gap were prepared by mixing the single-halide perovskite solutions at room temperature. The resulting PNCs had good monodispersity, with dimensions of 8–10 nm, high photoluminescence quantum yield (96.9%), narrow emission widths (15–34 nm), and tunable emission wavelength (408–694 nm), covering the entire visible spectrum. Additionally, various morphologies of PNCs, such as nanospheres, nanocubes, and nanowires, were obtained by controlling reaction temperature and time, and the amount of oleamine with multiple ligands in peanut oil potentially playing a dominant role in the nucleation/growth processes of our PNCs. Finally, the resulting CsPbBr3 PNCs were employed to develop a white light-emitting diode (WLED), demonstrating the potential lighting applications for our method.

Wurtzite CuNi2InS4 Nanocrystals: A Quaternary Chalcogenide Magnetic Semiconductor.

For the first time, quaternary chalcogenide CuNi2InS4 nanocrystals with a wurtzite structure have been designed and fabricated as a new magnetic semiconductor. The phase structure analysis suggests that the synthesized wurtzite CuNi2InS4 phase has a disordered structure in which Cu+, Ni2+, and In3+ ions share the same lattice site of the unit cell with a random cation distribution. The prepared CuNi2InS4 nanocrystals have uniform bullet-like morphology, small size distribution, good monodispersity, and high crystallinity. The magnetic properties investigation reveals that the wurtzite CuNi2InS4 nanocrystals can exhibit a weak ferromagnetic moment with the blocking temperature at around 13 K thanks to the disordered wurtzite structure and the high content of magnetic Ni2+ ions. As for the semiconducting properties, the as-obtained wurtzite CuNi2InS4 nanocrystals show a strong and broad visible light absorption and have a direct bandgap of 1.45 eV. Due to their favorable optical properties, the fabricated thin film of CuNi2InS4 nanocrystals exhibits a good photoelectric response to the solar spectrum, which makes the obtained new phase potential candidate for applications in the photovoltaics. This work demonstrates a new metastable I-II2-III-VI4 chalcogenide that can be used to render multiple functionalities and applications.

Preparation and Evaluation of Upconversion Nanoparticles Based miRNA Delivery Carrier in Colon Cancer Mice Model.

Therapeutic efficacy of solid tumor is often severely hampered by poor penetration of therapeutics into diseased tissues and lack of tumor targeting. In this study, the functionalized upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP)-based delivery vector targeting cancer cells was developed. Firstly, NaYF₄:Yb/Tm (UCNP) was prepared with the solvothermal method for the uniform nanoparticle size and brilliant lattice structure. The SiO₂ coated UCNP was demonstrated a high upconversion emission and good monodispersity, which was coupled with polyetherimide (PEI) and miR-145 vector. Then, it was further functionalized via hyaluronic acid (HA) (UCNP/PEI/HA Nanocomplex, UCNPs) coating for the targeted delivery and improved biocompatibility. The UCNPs/miR-145 displays an excellent biocompatibility, a high level of cellular uptake and miR-145 expression, which results in a significant cell cycle arrest in G1, and induces CCND1, CDK6 and CCNE2 proteins downregulation. In vivo, the HA-coated UCNPs were enriched at the tumor site by targeting and retention effects, which resulted in a significant inhibition of tumor growth. Histological experiments demonstrated that UCNPs did not show significant toxicity in mice colon cancer model. Taken together, a UCNPs-based delivery platform was successfully constructed and used for miRNA target delivery, which provided a new method and idea for bioengineering and nanotechnology-based tumor therapy.

A Dual-Model Imaging Theragnostic System Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Phototherapy.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) show great promise to be exploited as versatile multifunctional nanocarriers for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this work, perfluorohexane (PFH)-encapsulated MSNs with indocyanine green (ICG)-polydopamine (PDA) layer and poly(ethylene glycol)-folic acid coating (designated as MSNs-PFH@PDA-ICG-PEG-FA) are successfully fabricated to achieve tumor ultrasonic (US)/near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging as well as photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT). MSNs-PFH@PDA-ICG-PEG-FA exhibits good monodispersity with high ICG loading, significantly enhances ICG photostability, and greatly improves cellular uptake. Upon single 808 nm NIR irradiation, the nanocarrier not only efficiently generates hyperthermia to realize PTT, but also produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) for effective PDT. Meanwhile, NIR irradiation can trigger PFH to undergo vaporization and provide a super-resolution US image. Thus, the PTT/PDT combination therapy can be dually guided by PFH-induced US imaging and ICG-induced NIRF imaging. In vivo antitumor studies demonstrate that PTT/PDT from MSNs-PFH@PDA-ICG-PEG-FA significantly inhibits tumor growth and achieves a cure rate of 60% (three out of five mice are completely cured). Hence, the multifunctional MSNs appear to be a promising theragnostic nanoplatform for multimodal cancer imaging and therapy.

Development of chitin cross-linked enzyme aggregates of L-methioninase for upgraded activity, permanence and application as efficient therapeutic formulations

In this study, L-methioninase (METs) was precipitated from Pseudomonas putida MTCC 9782 and was cross-linked with a cross-linking agent glutaraldehyde to obtain a catalytically active insoluble enzyme. Among the various precipitants tested, ammonium sulfate displayed the highest precipitating (80%) efficiency. A double-response statistical concept, software that provides 20 different runs, was employed to assess the role of precipitant, concentration of cross-linking agent, and duration of cross linking. From the different 20 runs performed, the highest enzyme activity was observed in run 6 (88.17 U): the aggregate size was 11.57 μm, the concentration of saturated ammonium sulfate was 80% and glutaraldehyde 2 mM, and the incubation period was 12 h. R2 values of 0.9754 (enzyme activity) and 0.9203 (aggregate size) were obtained, which showed an enhanced association between the experimental and predicted values of enzyme activity. Enzyme molecules covalently cross-linked with chitin beads showed increased activities compared to free enzymes and enzymes cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. FTIR spectra confirmed the secondary structural alterations between CLEA-METs and chitin-cross-linked CLEA-METs. Thermal stability assays showed that chitin cross-linked CLEA-METs and CLEA-METs retained maximum enzyme activities of 95% and 80% at temperatures 55 °C and 60 °C, respectively. Storage stability assays showed that CLEA-METs retained 65% of their initial activity and chitin-immobilized CLEAs retained 88% of their activity. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and high content screening imaging technique revealed that chitin-immobilized CLEA-MET microspheres showed good monodispersity and mesoporous structure with the amorphous clusters of CLEA with few pores. Cytotoxicity analysis demonstrated that chitin-immobilized CLEA-MET significantly inhibited the proliferation of A549 cells up to 96.66% compared to free enzyme (72%) and CLEA-METs (76%).

Facile Preparation of Boron and Nitrogen Codoped Green Emission Carbon Quantum Dots for Detection of Permanganate and Captopril.

A hydrothermal strategy for preparing boron and nitrogen codoped carbon quantum dots was studied using the precursors of p-amino salicylic acid, boric acid and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate. The boron and nitrogen codoped carbon quantum dots have high fluorescence intensity, good monodispersity, high stability, superior water solubility, and a fluorescence quantum yield of 19.6%. Their average size is 5 nm. Their maximum excitation and emission wavelengths are 380 and 520 nm, respectively. Permanganate (MnO4-) quenched boron and nitrogen codoped carbon quantum dots fluorescence through inner filter effect and static quenching effects. The linear relation between quenching efficiency and MnO4- concentration ranged from 0.05 to 60 μmol/L with a detection limit of 13 nmol/L. In the presence of captopril, MnO4- was reduced to Mn2+ and the fluorescence of boron and nitrogen codoped carbon quantum dots was recovered. The linear range between recovery and captopril concentration was from 0.1 to 60 μmol/L. The limit of detection was 0.03 μmol/L. The developed method can be employed as a sensitive fluorescence sensing platform for MnO4-. It has been successfully used for captopril detection in mouse plasma.

Controllable Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Piezoelectric-Actuated High-Frequency Vibration Self-Circulating Microfluidic Reactor

Based on the liquid-phase reduction mechanism, a controllable synthesis method, which uses piezoelectric-actuated high-frequency vibration self-circulating microfluidic reactor, to prepare silver nanoparticles is proposed. Firstly, the synthesis mechanism of silver nanoparticles and the working principle of the microfluidic reactor were analyzed. Then, in order to study and explore the influence of self-circulating and high frequency vibration on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, a series of related synthesis experiments were carried out. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of micropump driving voltage and high-frequency vibration on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles were analyzed. The experiment results show that when the silver nanoparticles were synthesized using piezoelectric-actuated high-frequency vibration self-circulating microfluidic reactor, the higher the driving voltage of the circulating reflux micropump, the faster the vortex rotation speed in the mixing pool and the more uniform the reagent reaction. Besides, high-frequency vibration can suppress the aggregation of silver nanoparticles, and balance the growth environment of particles, which is beneficial to the formation of silver nanoparticles with good monodispersity, high sphericity and small size deviation.

TO/TMMP-TMTGE Double-Healing Composite Containing a Transesterification Reversible Matrix and Tung Oil-Loaded Microcapsules for Active Self-Healing.

Thermoset epoxies are widely used due to their excellent properties, but conventional epoxies require a complicated and time-consuming curing process, and they cannot self-healed, which limits their applications in self-healing materials. Extrinsic and intrinsic self-healing materials are applied in various fields due to their respective characteristics, but there is a lack of comparison between the two types of healing systems. Based on this, a thiol-epoxide click reaction catalyzed by an organic base was introduced to achieve the efficient preparation of thiol-epoxy. Furthermore, tung oil (TO)-loaded microcapsules were introduced into the thiol-epoxy matrix of dynamic transesterification to obtain a TO/TMMP-TMTGE self-healing composite with an intrinsic–extrinsic double-healing system. For comparison, a TMMP-TMTGE self-healing material with an intrinsic healing system was also prepared, which contained only thiol and epoxy curing chemistries. The effect of the core/shell ratio on the morphology, average particle size, and core content of TO-loaded microcapsules was studied. It was found that when the core/shell ratio was 3:1, the average particle size of the microcapsules was about 99.8 μm, and the microcapsules showed good monodispersity, as well as a core content of about 58.91%. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that the TO core was successfully encapsulated and remained effective after encapsulation. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), tensile tests, and electrochemical tests were carried out for the two types of self-healing materials. The results showed that the TO/TMMP-TMTGE composite and TMMP-TMTGE material both had self-healing properties. In addition, the TO/TMMP-TMTGE composite was superior to the TMMP-TMTGE material due to its better self-healing performance, mechanical strength, and corrosion protection performance.

Comparative study of cross-linked and linear thermo-responsive carriers supported palladium nanoparticles in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol: Structure, catalytic activity and responsive catalysis property

In this paper, studies on the structure, catalytic activity and responsive catalysis property of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) loaded on cross-linked and linear thermo-responsive polymer were presented. The reduction of palladium acetate immobilized in both systems yielded the corresponding PdNPs. The PdNPs were relatively uniform with a certain degree of aggregation and the diameter is about 6–10 nm in the cross-linked carrier (microgel), and had good monodispersity in size with an average particle size of about 3.2 nm in the linear carrier (single-chain copolymer). The catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) by sodium borohydride was adopted as a model reaction to study the catalytic activity of PdNPs embedded in different thermo-responsive carriers. The analysis of the kinetic data obtained showed that the catalytic activity of the PdNPs significantly depend on the type of carrier used. The single-chain thermo-responsive polymeric carrier supported PdNPs exhibited remarkable high catalytic activity compared to microgels supported ones. In addition, both systems presented thermo-responsive catalysis property by displaying different catalytic activities at different temperatures. The thermo-responsive effects were due to the limitation of diffusion of substrate into catalytic active sites for the microgels supported system, and the micelles aggregation and precipitation from reaction mixture for the single-chain copolymer supported system. The present study offers clear indications on what carrier for metallic nanoparticles should be designed to achieve higher catalytic activity, and to realize the control of their catalytic activity by temperature for exothermic catalytic reactions.

Biodegradable Alginate Polyelectrolyte Capsules As Plausible Biocompatible Delivery Carriers.

Polyelectrolyte capsules made of different biodegradable and nonbiodegradable polymers can be designed as systems for effective encapsulation and delivery of compounds. The objective of this work was to synthesize biocompatible and biodegradable capsules (<1 μm) by the layer-by-layer (LbL) approach using alginate (ALGI) and poly-l-arginine (PARG) polyelectrolytes with a pH-sensitive outer layer of EUDRAGIT L 100 (EuL) polymer. Those capsules were loaded with curcumin as a model therapeutic drug, which possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. Encapsulation of drugs inside capsules protects its therapeutic activity and increases its bioavailability. We report the capsule stability, loading efficiency, drug release, as well as capsule degradation studies as a function of pH. Furthermore, in vitro biocompatibility studies of capsules including cell viability and uptake studies were performed using HeLa cells. The here synthesized capsules exhibited good reproducibility, spherical shape, and high monodispersibility. The capsules showed good loading efficiency and drug release profile dependent upon pH environment. The in vitro studies indicate that the capsules exhibited acceptable biocompatibility and are highly internalized by cells. Our study thus suggests that alginate LbL capsules could be used as an efficient drug carrier with effective encapsulation and successful in vitro release of cargo in the cell.

Preparation and Characterization of Monodisperse Magnetic Carbon Microspheres with Controllable Shell Thickness and High Water Solubility

Core-shell magnetic carbon microspheres with good monodispersity and uniformity were obtained. Good monodispersity was achieved by adding a dispersant in the solvothermal synthesis of magnetic core, as the criterion for good dispersibility was set up through dynamic light scattering (DLS). The excellent dispersing agent (Poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid, SS: MA = 3:1) sodium salt, PSSMA) has been selected among three dispersants, which greatly improves the dispersibility of the magnetic core in the coating environment, thereby obtaining a core-shell structure with uniform coating and monodispersity. Carbon shell was gained by deposit coating process of resorcinol formaldehyde resin (RF) onto the magnetic core and then subsequent carbonization under N2 atmosphere. At the same time, the carbon shell thickness can be adjusted up to 70 nm by adjusting the RF shell thickness which is tunable ranging from 30 to120 nm.

A fluorescence turn-on biosensor based on transferrin encapsulated gold nanoclusters for 5-hydroxytryptamine detection

In the past few decades, protein-templated fluorescent gold nanoclusters have attracted much attention in the field of biosensing as their excellent optical properties and good biocompatibility. In this work, a fluorescence turn-on biosensor was fabricated for the sensitive detection of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) with transferrin encapsulated gold nanoclusters (Tf-Au NCs). The Tf-Au NCs were facilely prepared with the assistance of microwave radiation in several minutes and exhibited good monodispersity as well as strong red-emission. It was demonstrated that an aggregation-enhanced emission of Tf-Au NCs was triggered by 5-HT due to the high affinity between 5-HT and the sialic acid (SA) residues of transferrin. Based on these findings, a highly selective turn-on fluorescent sensor was fabricated for the quantitative determination of 5-HT in the range of 0.2–50 μM (R2 = 0.994) with a detection limit of 0.049 μM (S/N = 3). The developed sensor was also successfully applied for the 5-HT detection in human serum with satisfactory recoveries of 96.20–108.6%.

A green, rapid, scalable and versatile hydrothermal strategy to fabricate monodisperse carbon spheres with tunable micrometer size and hierarchical porosity

Monodisperse micron-grade carbon spheres (MCSs) (1.1–7.1 μm) were prepared via the hydrothermal carbonization of maltose with the addition of polyacrylic and inorganic acid. The synthesis could be accomplished in 3 h and still take effect at a large maltose concentration (∼800 g/L) or in tenfold enlarged experiments. This strategy was also applicable to form MCSs with good monodispersity for various carbohydrates including glucose, sucrose, soluble starch, xylan, glucan and barley starch. The simple H2O2 oxidation and calcination under static air atmosphere could introduce good surface meso- and macroporosity (average pore size of 4.2 nm, 79% of total pore volume) onto MCSs. The covalent grafting of porous MCSs with hyperbranched quaternized polymers was implemented in aqueous solution, via amidation with polyvinylamine and following amine-epoxy addition reaction with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. As ion chromatographic stationary phases, the modified porous MCSs rapidly accomplished the baseline separation of typical inorganic anions and carbohydrates with high efficiency and satisfactory stability.

Morphology-controlled self-assembled nanostructures of octa(phenoxy)-substituted phthalocyaninato manganese(III) and their nonlinear optical properties: Solvent effect on tuning the intermolecular interaction

Two different morphological nanostructures of 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24- octakis(phenoxy) phthalocyaninato manganese(III) complex (MnCl[Pc(OPh)8]), with good uniformity and monodispersity, are successfully fabricated through a simple solution self-assembly strategy. Depending mainly on the intermolecular π-π interaction between the phthalocyanine rings, phthalocyaninato manganese complex self-assemble into rod-like nanostructures with H-type aggregation in n-hexane. In contrast, the MnO coordination interactions between the hydroxyl oxygen in solvated methanol molecule and manganese center of neighboring MnCl[Pc(OPh)8] molecule, lead to the formation of spherical nanostructures with J-type aggregation in methanol. Comparative investigation results clearly reveal the solvent coordination effect on tuning the intermolecular interaction and the morphology of the self-assembled MnCl[Pc(OPh)8] nanostructures. In addition, further investigation about the nonlinear optical properties of self-assembled aggregates indicate that the nanostructures fabricated from MnCl[Pc(OPh)8] exhibited reverse saturation absorption in n-hexane and saturation absorption in methanol.

Optimization of myco-synthesized silver nanoparticles by response surface methodology employing Box-Behnken design

The objective of current study was to optimize the average diameter size of biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) induced by Penicillium citrinum. The AgNPs were prepared with a spherical shape and good monodispersity, determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS). Besides, response surface methodology (RSM) was conducted to optimize the average diameter size of AgNPs by employing Box-Behnken design (BBD). The effective factors in this process were concentration of AgNO3 (mM) (X1), pH of solution (X2), temperature of shaker incubator (°C) (X3), rate of shaker incubator (rpm) (X4) and time of incubation (hour) (X5). The R2 (0.8894) value of the obtained model indicated a good correlation between the observed and predicted values. Overall, it could be concluded that multivariate analysis facilitated to find out the optimum conditions for the biosynthesis of AgNPs induced by P. citrinum with the reduced time and cost.

Investigation on dispersion stability and thermal-physical properties of hybrid graphene and MEPCM suspensions

Microencapsulated phase change materials (MEPCMs) were prepared by microfluidic technology. The MEPCMs, measured by scanning electron microscope, exhibited a uniform particle size distribution and good monodispersity. Glycerin and pure water were mixed in definite proportion as the base fluid with the same density as the MEPCM. Consequently, stable suspension of MEPCMs was easily obtained by mixing the MEPCMs into the base fluid. Graphenes were added to the suspension due to the super thermal conductivity of this material. The hybrid suspension, measured by dispersion stability analyzer, showed good stability, suggesting that the MEPCMs could impede the sedimentation of graphenes effectively. The viscosity and thermal conductivity of the hybrid suspension were investigated with rotational rheometer and flash thermal diffusivity instrument, respectively. The results showed that in the hybrid suspension, the thermal conductivity exhibited an obvious improvement in comparison with that of the MEPCM suspension, and the increase in viscosity caused by the addition of graphenes was negligible.

Preparation and Properties of Hydrophilic Rosin-Based Aromatic Polyurethane Microspheres

Hydrophilic aromatic polyurethane (HAPU) microspheres were prepared through dispersion polymerization of a rosin-based polyurethane dispersion with C=C and styrene (St). The effects of the monomer ratio (i.e., waterborne rosin-based aromatic polyurethane (WRPU) to St), dispersant level, and reaction temperature on the properties of the microspheres were investigated; the effects of pH and adsorption temperature on the adsorption capacity of Orange II were also studied. The microspheres were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive spectrometry, thermogravimetric analysis, laser particle size analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that HAPU microspheres have been successfully synthesized and the produced microspheres exhibited good thermal stability and monodispersion. The optimum reaction conditions for the preparation of the microspheres were determined as a monomer ratio (mWRPU/mSt) of 6:4 with 8 wt % poly(vinyl pyrrolidine) (on the basis of the mixed monomer) at 80 °C for 8 h. Under these conditions, the average particle size of the synthetic microspheres was 120 nm and the particle size distribution index was 0.442. The microspheres’ adsorption capacity for Orange II reached 17.53 mg·g–1 when the solid–liquid ratio was 1 g·L–1, with an initial concentration of 100 mg·L–1 at pH 5, and the adsorption was conducted at 313 K for 3 h.

Biodegradable Micelles for NIR/GSH-Triggered Chemophototherapy of Cancer.

The chemotherapy of stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems (SDDSs) is a promising method to enhance cancer treatment effects. However, the low efficiency of chemotherapy drugs and poor degradation partly limit the application of SDDSs. Herein, we report doxorubicin (DOX)-loading mixed micelles for biotin-targeting drug delivery and enhanced photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PTT/PDT). Glutathione (GSH)-responsive mixed micelles were prepared by a dialysis method, proportionally mixing polycaprolactone-disulfide bond-biodegradable photoluminescent polymer (PCL-SS-BPLP) and biotin-polyethylene glycol-cypate (biotin-PEG-cypate). Chemically linking cypate into the mixed micelles greatly improved cypate solubility and PTT/PDT effect. The micelles also exhibited good monodispersity and stability in cell medium (~119.7 nm), low critical micelles concentration, good biodegradation, and photodecomposition. The high concentration of GSH in cancer cells and near-infrared light (NIR)-mediated cypate decomposition were able to achieve DOX centralized release. Meanwhile, the DOX-based chemotherapy combined with cypate-based NIR-triggered hyperthermia and reactive oxygen species could synergistically induce HepG2 cell death and apoptosis. The in vivo experiments confirmed that the micelles generated hyperthermia and achieved a desirable therapeutic effect. Therefore, the designed biodegradable micelles are promising safe nanovehicles for antitumor drug delivery and chemo/PTT/PDT combination therapy.