Photothermal Conversion Ability Research Articles

Cobalt-doped β-Ni(OH)2 electrode fabricated by in-situ chemical corrosion for photo-assisted supercapacitor with low-temperature operation

The integration of photosensitive electrode materials with excellent electron and ion transfer dynamics provides an effective strategy to address the unsatisfactory low temperature tolerance of energy storage devices. Here, the surface morphology reconstruction derived from the in-situ chemical corrosion of nickel foam (NF) endow the Co-doped β-Ni(OH)2 electrode material excellent electrolyte contact and more exposed active surface, showing the super area specific capacity under illumination (15.01 F/cm2 at 60 mA/cm2), which is three times higher than that without illumination (5.29 F/cm2 at 60 mA/cm2) at room temperature. The energy density of the assembled asymmetric photoassisted supercapacitor (ASC) reaches 1.85 mWh/cm2 at a power density of 36.01 mW/cm2 under illumination, increased by 94.7 % compared to that without illumination at room temperature. Benefiting from the excellent photoelectric and photothermal conversion ability of the electrodes, the energy density of ASC can reach up to 0.63 mWh/cm2 with a power density of 34.94 mW/cm2 under illumination even at a low temperature of −40 °C, demonstrating the potential application of the wide temperature range of the supercapacitor.

Using anti-PD-L1 antibody conjugated gold nanoshelled poly (Lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanocapsules loaded with doxorubicin: A theranostic agent for ultrasound imaging and photothermal/chemo combination therapy of triple negative breast cancer.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) has the worst prognosis of all breast cancers, and it is difficult to progress through traditional chemotherapy. Therefore, the treatment of TNBC urgently requires agents with effective diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. In this study, we obtained programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody conjugated gold nanoshelled poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocapsules (NCs) encapsulating doxorubicin (DOX) (DOX@PLGA@Au-PD-L1 NCs). PLGA NCs encapsulating DOX were prepared by a modified single-emulsion oil-in-water (O/W) solvent evaporation method, and gold nanoshells were formed on the surface by gold seed growth method, which were coupled with PD-L1 antibodies by carbodiimide method. The fabricated DOX@PLGA@Au-PD-L1 NCs exhibited promising contrast enhancement in vitro ultrasound imaging. Furthermore, DOX encapsulated in NCs displayed good pH-responsive and photo-triggered drug release properties. After irradiating 200 μg/mL NCs solution with a laser for 10 min, the solution temperature increased by nearly 23°C, indicating that the NCs had good photothermal conversion ability. The targeting experiments confirmed that the NCs had specific target binding ability to TNBC cells overexpressing PD-L1 molecules. Cell experiments exhibited that the agent significantly reduced the survival rate of TNBC cells through photochemotherapy combination therapy. As a multifunctional diagnostic agent, DOX@PLGA@Au-PD-L1 NCs could be used for ultrasound targeted contrast imaging and photochemotherapy combination therapy of TNBC cells, providing a promising idea for early diagnosis and treatment of TNBC.

Polydopamine-activated celastrol carbon dots for synergistic chemotherapy-photothermal therapy of tumors

Synergistic chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) holds the promise of addressing the weakness of individualized chemotherapy and PTT. In this study, we synthesized a chemotherapeutic agent, PDA-Ce-CDs, which combines the photothermal conversion ability and the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), enabling synergistic enhancement of antitumor effects. Furthermore, the localized heating effect of NIR radiation promoted the uptake of the PDA-Ce-CDs and enhances the sensitivity of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, the antitumor activity of the PDA-Ce-CDs was evaluated through cell experiments and tumor-bearing mice experiments, confirming its excellent antitumor efficacy in vivo and in vitro. Our work presents a new strategy in cancer treatment by utilizing carbon dots in combination with photothermal agents for synergistic chemotherapy-photothermal therapy. This innovative approach offers a new therapeutic avenue for synergistic tumor treatment by harnessing the combined effects of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy.

Construction of double cross‐linked networks in calcium alginate/poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide hydrogel with photothermal responsiveness for absorbing heavy metal ions

AbstractHydrogels have been widely used for adsorbing heavy metal ions in wastewater treatment. Herein, a calcium alginate/poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide double‐network hydrogel with photothermal responsiveness was prepared for adsorbing heavy metal ions in aqueous solution. The chemical composition, micromorphology, swelling properties, photothermal responsiveness, adsorption properties, and adsorption mechanism of gel microspheres were studied, respectively. The gel microspheres had an interpenetrating three‐dimensional porous structure, and their high porosity morphology and high specific surface area could ensure the adequate exposure of active adsorption sites. The gel microspheres showed excellent selective adsorption of Cr(III), and the theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of 146.16 mg/g was calculated according to the Langmuir model. Besides, its excellent photothermal conversion ability enhanced the resistance to external interference after the adsorption. Our work has provided an innovative approach to solar water purification while optimizing the preparation process.

Photothermally sensitive gold nanocage augments the antitumor efficiency of immune checkpoint blockade in immune "cold" tumors.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized the therapy landscape of malignancy melanoma. However, the clinical benefits from this regimen remain limited, especially in tumors lacking infiltrated T cells (known as "cold" tumors). Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) has demonstrated improved outcomes in the ablation of solid tumors by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) and reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment. Therefore, the combination of PTT and ICB is a promising regimen for patients with "cold" tumors. A second near-infrared (NIR-II) light-activated gold nanocomposite AuNC@SiO2@HA with AuNC as a kernel, silica as shell, and hyaluronic acid (HA) polymer as a targeting molecule, was synthesized for PTT. The fabricated AuNC@SiO2@HA nanocomposites underwent various in vitro studies to characterize their physicochemical properties, light absorption spectra, photothermal conversion ability, cellular uptake ability, and bioactivities. The synergistic effect of AuNC@SiO2@HA-mediated PTT and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy was evaluated using a mouse model of immune "cold" melanoma. The tumor-infiltrating T cells were assessed by immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. Furthermore, the mechanism of AuNC@SiO2@HA-induced T-cell infiltration was investigated through immunochemistry staining of the ICD-related markers, including HSP70, CRT, and HMGB1. Finally, the safety of AuNC@SiO2@HA nanocomposites was evaluated in vivo. The AuNC@SiO2@HA nanocomposite with absorption covering 1064 nm was successfully synthesized. The nano-system can be effectively delivered into tumor cells, transform the optical energy into thermal energy upon laser irradiation, and induce tumor cell apoptosis in vitro. In an in vivo mouse melanoma model, AuNC@SiO2@HA nanocomposites significantly induced ICD and T-cell infiltration. The combination of AuNC@SiO2@HA and anti-PD-1 antibody synergistically inhibited tumor growth via stimulating robust T lymphocyte immune responses. The combination of AuNC@SiO2@HA-mediated PTT and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy proposed a neoteric strategy for oncotherapy, which efficiently convert the immune "cold" tumors into "hot" ones.

A Fe-Ni-MOF-74@bamboo photothermal evaporator for efficient solar steam generation

Solar-driven interfacial steam generation is considered as a promising technology to solve the shortage of fresh water resources by using inexhaustible solar energy. In this field, the challenge comes from the design of an interfacial evaporator with high performance in photothermal conversion, water activation (low evaporation enthalpy) and water delivery ability. Herein, a composite evaporator was prepared by in-situ composition of bamboo and Fe-Ni-MOF-74 and subsequently simple carbonization. In this evaporator, bamboo ensures that water quickly reaches the evaporation interface, and rich hydrophilic groups have the function of activating water molecules. Fe-Ni-MOF-74 enhances photothermal effect due to bimetallic coordination. In addition, the hydrophilic feature and the pore structure strengthen the water activation and water absorption capacity. Meanwhile, carbonization under mild conditions compensates for the light absorption. As an outcome, the evaporator achieves high evaporation rate (3.61 kg m−2 h−1), high solar-vapor conversion efficiency (153 %), low evaporation enthalpy (1.517 kJ g−1), good stability in saline water and antibacterial function. Furthermore, both seawater and wastewater purified by the evaporator comply with drinking water standards. In the outdoor experiment, the evaporator can collect water of 4.01 kg m−2 during one daylight. The result highlights great potential of bamboo and MOF composite evaporator for producing fresh water using solar energy.

Construction of Mo/Mo2C@C modified ZnIn2S4 Schottky junctions for efficient photo-thermal assisted hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting on noble metal-free photocatalysts for H2 generation is a promising but challenging approach to realize solar-to-chemical energy conversion. In this study, Mo/Mo2C nanoparticles anchored carbon layer (Mo/Mo2C@C) was obtained by a one-step in-situ phase transition approach and developed for the first time as a photothermal cocatalyst to enhance the activity of ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst. Mo/Mo2C@C nanosheet exhibits strong absorption in the full spectrum region and excellent photo-thermal conversion ability, which generates heat to improve the reaction temperature and accelerate the reaction kinetics. Moreover, metallic Mo/Mo2C@C couples with ZnIn2S4 to form ZnIn2S4–Mo/Mo2C@C Schottky junction (denoted as ZMM), which prevents the electrons back transfer and restrains the charge recombination. In addition, conductive carbon with strong interfacial interaction serves as a fast charge transport bridge. Consequently, the optimized ZMM-0.2 junction exhibits an H2 evolution rate of 1031.07 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 41 and 4.3 times higher than bare ZnIn2S4 and ZnIn2S4–Mo2C, respectively. By designing novel photothermal cocatalysts, our work will provide a new guidance for designing efficient photocatalysts.

Polydopamine functionalized polyurethane shape memory sponge with controllable expansion performance triggered by near-infrared light for incompressible hemorrhage control

Uncontrolled expansion of shape memory sponges face a significant challenge in the treatment of lethal incompressible hemorrhage, which can lead to blood overflow or damage to the surrounding tissue. Herein, we developed a polydopamine functionalized polyurethane shape memory sponge (PDA-TPI-PU) with a controllable degree of expansion by near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered stimulation for the treatment of incompressible hemorrhage. The sponge has excellent liquid absorption performance and robust mechanical strength as well as good photothermal conversion ability. Under NIR light of 0.32 W/cm2, the maximum recovery rate of the fixed-shape compression sponge was 91% within 25 s in air and 80% within 25 s in blood. In the SD rat liver penetrating injury model, compared with commercial medical gelatin sponge and PVA sponge, the PDA-TPI-PU sponge could effectively control the bleeding under the NIR light irradiation and did not cause excessive compression of the wound. The sponge with these characteristics shows potential application prospects as a hemostatic material.

Biomass aerogel composite containing BaTiO3 nanoparticles and MXene for highly sensitive self-powered sensor and photothermal antibacterial applications

Biomass aerogel materials are increasingly attracting researchers’ attention because of good biocompatibility of biomass materials and multiple functional features of aerogel materials. Herein, novel biomass aerogel composite was fabricated by doping hydroxylated barium titanate (BT-OH) nanoparticles and MXene in chitosan/bacterial cellulose (CB) aerogel by simple methods containing chemical modification, physical mixture and lyophilization. The novel aerogel composite named CB/BT-OH/MXene showed favorable piezoelectric properties and excellent photothermal antibacterial properties. The aerogel composite-based piezoelectric sensor displayed short response time (0.4 s), high response sensitivity (800 mV/N), and long cycle stability (over 1000 cycles), which could monitor various body movements, including fingers bending, speaking, wrist bending, elbow bending, smiling, and walking. Moreover, the aerogel composite possessed satisfactory photothermal conversion ability, which could reach 55 ℃ by 10 s of near-infrared irradiation (808 nm, 0.2 W/cm2), successfully achieving complete sterilization effect towards S. aureus and E. coli. The novel biomass aerogel composite may find its potential applications in wearable or implantable self-powered sensors with satisfactory antibacterial performance.

Flexible MXene/Nanocellulose Composite Aerogel Film with Cellular Structure for Electromagnetic Interference Shielding and Photothermal Conversion.

With the rapid development of wearable devices and integrated systems, protection against electromagnetic waves is an issue. For solving the problems of poor flexibility and a tendency to corrode traditional electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials, two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial MXene was employed to manufacture next-generation EMI shielding materials. Vacuum-assisted filtration combined with the liquid nitrogen prefreezing strategy was adopted to prepare flexible MXene/cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) composite aerogel film with unique cellular structure. Here, CNFs were employed as the reinforcement, and such a cellular structure design can effectively improve the shielding effectiveness (SE). In particular, the composite shows an outstanding EMI SE of 54 dB. Furthermore, the MXene/CNFs composite aerogel film exhibited prominent and steady photothermal conversion ability, which could obtain the maximum equilibrium temperature of 89.4 °C under an 808 nm NIR laser. Thus, our flexible composite aerogel film with appealing cellular construction holds great promise for wearable EMI shielding materials and heating applications in a cold and complex practical environment.

MXene/aramid nanofiber films enables highly efficient photothermal conversion for solar-driven water evaporation

Efficient utilization of solar energy is a resultful strategy to solve the problem of shortage of traditional fossil energy. Solar-driven water evaporation is considered as an effective, low-cost, renewable, and environment-friendly technology for clean water production. Herein, a novel MXene/ANF composite film was fabricated by facile vacuum filtration method. Benefiting from the excellent photothermal conversion property of MXene and the flexibility and stability of ANF, the MXene/ANF composite film exhibits high-efficient photothermal conversion and water evaporation ability. The as-prepared MXene/ANF composite film can reach as high as 98.0 °C at the laser power density of 1 kW/m2 and 54.0 °C under the solar power density of 1 kW/m2. Meanwhile, the water evaporation of MXene/ANF composite film can reach 1.432 kg/m2 under the solar power density of 1 kW/m2. Therefore, the MXene/ANF composite films possess a good prospect to be applied as a solar-driven water evaporation device to solve the problem of shortage of traditional fossil energy and inadequate freshwater supply.

Mitochondria-Targeting Multimodal Phototheranostics Based on Triphenylphosphonium Cation Modified Amphiphilic Pillararenes and A-D-A Fused-Ring Photosensitizers.

Tumor-targeting phototheranostics has gradually developed as a powerful tool for the precise diagnosis and treatment of cancer. However, the designs of tumor-targeting phototheranostics agents with excellent multimodal phototherapy and fluorescence imaging (FLI) capability, as well as very few components, are still scarce and challenging for cancer treatment. Herein, a mitochondria-targeting multimodal phototheranostics system has been constructed by combining a designed amphiphilic pillararene WP5-2PEG-2TPP and the A-D-A fused-ring photosensitizer F8CA5. WP5-2PEG-2TPP is constructed by attaching the triphenylphosphonium cations to our previously reported dual PEG-functionalized amphiphilic pillararene, which can self-assemble into regular spherical nanocarriers with outstanding mitochondria targeting and water solubility. The A-D-A photosensitizer F8CA5 containing two methyl cyanoacetate group modified end groups displays superior photothermal conversion ability and dual type I/II photodynamic activity as well as strong NIR fluorescence emission. Through their strong union, multifunctional mitochondria-targeting phototheranostics agent F8CA5 NPs were obtained to be applied into FLI-guided synergistic photothermal and type I/II photodynamic therapy. As a result, F8CA5 NPs show good mitochondria-targeting and phototherapy effects in various tumor cells. Not only that, they can combat tumor hypoxia, which hinders the efficacy of photodynamic therapy. Therefore, this work provides a creative ideal for the construction of multifunctional tumor-targeting phototheranostic agents with excellent performance.

Waste to treasure: Reutilization of fluid catalytic cracking coke block as photothermal conversion material for water evaporation

This study aims to analyze the coking process and propose an effective method for the reutilization of fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) coke block. Herein, we analyzed the basic characteristics and chemical composition of FCC coke blocks. The results showed that the main components were carbon, oxygen, and aluminum, accounting for 60.8%, 26.6%, and 11.5%, respectively. Under the conventional catalytic cracking reaction temperature from 500 °C to 600 °C, the formation of the first aromatic hydrocarbon was particularly important for the formation of coke. The condensation of oil-gas-entrained catalyst particles and their heavy components was the physical cause of coking, while the dehydrogenation condensation reaction of oil-gas heavy components was the chemical factor. In addition, the membrane prepared by powdered coke had excellent photothermal conversion ability, which could be heated to more than 110 °C within 360 s under two fixed light intensities. The evaporation rate of photothermal water was 5.89 kg m2 h−1, which has great industrial application potential. These works provide a novel and effective method of separation membrane for the reutilization of FCC coke blocks.

Ni-TiO2 catalysts derived from metal-organic framework for efficient photo-thermal CO2 methanation

Catalytic reduction of CO2 to high value-added chemicals such as methane is crucial in the development of renewable energy and waste disposal. Photo-thermal CO2 methanation has been received great attention, because the synergistic effect of photo and thermal lead to efficient CO2 reduction at low temperature. Herein, we reported the synthesis of Ni nanoparticles (NPs) supported on TiO2 (Ni-TiO2) derived from MIL-125 (Ti-MOFs) for photo-thermal CO2 methanation. The nanoparticle sizes and electron densities of metallic Ni, defects and chemical properties, photo-thermal and photo-electric characteristics of the catalysts have been systematically characterized by XRD, TEM, CO2/H2-TPD, XPS, photoluminescence and photocurrent. For the Ni-TiO2, the conversion of CO2 was 56 % under the full spectrum irradiation (1200 mW/cm2) at 325 °C, which was about 1.8 times of that without light irradiation. The selectivity of methane nearly 99 % with a production rate was 95.7 mmol/(gcat∙h), which was about 2.7 times of that without light irradiation. Meanwhile, the catalysts showed excellent stability without any activity decay during the four cycles testing (32 h). The main reasons for the high catalytic performance for photo-thermal CO2 methanation were attributed to the uniform distribution of Ni NPs with synergistic effect of large specific surface area of TiO2 with abundant moderate strength alkaline sites. In addition, good photo-thermal and photo-electric conversion ability make the catalysts possess more photo-generated charge carriers and reduce its recombination.

Resveratrol-Coated Gold Nanoflowers for CT Imaging and Apoptosis/Photothermal Synergistic Therapy of Malignant Melanoma.

In the past decade, photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors based on gold nanomaterials has been widely studied because of their strong extinction ability and high photothermal conversion ability in the near-infrared (NIR) region. However, related research still faces two problems: First, the biosafety of the surface ligands on gold nanomaterials is not ideal and even has strong toxicity, so the surface modification or shell coating is very necessary; second, gold nanomaterials only have a single PTT function, which requires high temperature to achieve better treatment effect. Therefore, it is necessary to enrich the antitumor function of gold nanomaterials and realize synergistic therapy. Natural polyphenols can combine with each other or other substances through various supramolecular forces, forming shells on the surface of nanomaterials and reducing biotoxicity. In addition, natural polyphenols represented by resveratrol have antitumor activity and can induce apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, the surface coating method of gold nanomaterials with natural polyphenols with antitumor activity can effectively solve the above problems. In this work, we prepared resveratrol-coated gold nanoflowers (Au@Res NFs) and applied them to the treatment of malignant melanoma. Resveratrol in Au@Res NFs can induce the apoptosis of tumor cells, and Au@Res NFs can play a role in PTT under an NIR laser. In cell experiments, the synergistic effect of apoptosis/PTT on the A375 cells was extremely strong. In animal experiments, Au@Res NFs enriched in tumor sites identified the location and boundary of tumors by computed tomography (CT). The apoptosis induced by resveratrol had a certain inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Further applying the NIR laser, under the synergistic effect of apoptosis and PTT, the tumors were completely eliminated without recurrence during the experimental period.

Polydopamine-assisted MXene decoration on electrospun polylactide fibers toward oil/water separation and organic dye adsorption

As an eco-friendly material, the wide application of polylactide (PLA) in wastewater treatment is favorable for eliminating the possible second-pollution induced by the common membrane materials. However, the application of PLA is also greatly restricted by the hydrophobicity and inert surface of PLA-based materials. In this work, the electrospun PLA fiber film with stereocomplex crystallites (SC-PLA) was prepared through electrospinning, then the successive decorations of self-polymerization of polydopamine (PDA) and PDA-assisted MXene deposition were carried out. The physicochemical performances such as wettability, mechanical properties, and photothermal conversion ability were intensively researched. Then, the oil/water separation ability and the organic pollutants removal effect of the composite membranes were systematically researched. The results show that the composite membrane is amphiphilic, which results in the membrane exhibiting high fluxes and excellent oil/water separation performance in the separation process of different types of emulsions, and oil/water separation efficiency can be further enhanced under light irradiation. Specifically, the maximum adsorption capacity of the composite membrane for methylene blue (MB) reached 434.8 mg/g, and the composite membrane can also simultaneously remove oil and MB from the emulsified solution in the one-time separation process. This work demonstrates that the PLA-based composite membranes have potential application in sewage purification and can be the alternative for the next generation membrane separation material.

Gadolinium-Doped Carbon Nanodots as Potential Anticancer Tools for Multimodal Image-Guided Photothermal Therapy and Tumor Monitoring.

This study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of gadolinium-doped carbon nanodots (CDs-Gd) and their potential applications in multimodal imaging and precision cancer therapy. CDs-Gd were synthesized through a solvothermal decomposition method combining citric acid, GdCl3, and urea. The incorporation of Gd3+ ions within the carbonaceous structure resulted in stable CDs-Gd with a peculiar architecture that retained optical and paramagnetic properties. Combined characterization techniques confirmed the presence of pH-sensitive COOH functions on the CDs-Gd surface along with the unique lattice structure induced by Gd3+ doping. The optical properties of CDs-Gd exhibited a tunable emission spectrum displaying blue-green emission with pH-dependent behavior. Additionally, CDs-Gd exhibited contrast-enhancing properties in T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments. MRI acquisitions at different Gd3+ concentrations and pH values demonstrated the potential of CDs-Gd as contrast agents for monitoring pH changes in an aqueous environment. We found that the relaxivity of CDs-Gd at pH 5.5 (tumor, 11.3 mM-1 s-1) is roughly 3-fold higher than that observed at pH 7.4 (physiological, 5.0 mM-1 s-1) and outperformed clinical standards such as γ-butyrol (3.3 mM-1 s-1). Monitoring pH changes in tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of anticancer treatments and understanding tumor progression. Furthermore, CDs-Gd demonstrated concentration-dependent photothermal conversion ability in the near-infrared (NIR) region, allowing for efficient heat generation under laser irradiation. This indicates the potential application of CDs-Gd in image-guided photothermal therapy (IG-PTT) for cancer treatment. The in vitro studies on MCF-7 (breast cancer) and 16-HBE (healthy bronchial epithelium) cell lines demonstrated that CDs-Gd exhibited high biocompatibility (cell viability >80%). However, upon NIR activation, they showed potent anticancer effects by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis selectively in cancer cells. In conclusion, the synthesized CDs-Gd nanoparticles possess unique optical, photothermal, and MRI contrast properties, making them promising candidates for multimodal imaging-guided precision cancer therapy applications.

Achieving high-precision dual-mode temperature measurement in the photothermal conversion process of SrIn2O4: Er3+, Yb3+ phosphors

Accurate measurement of temperature during photothermal conversion is crucial for the application of up-conversion photothermal conversion fluorescent materials. In this paper, a kind of SrIn2O4: Yb3+, Er3+ up-conversion phosphor with strong photothermal conversion ability and high-precision dual-mode temperature measurement performance was synthesized by high-temperature solid-state method. Under 980 nm laser excitation, a high-precision temperature measurement with a maximum relative sensitivity of Sr = 1.2 %K−1 was achieved by using the fluorescence intensity ratio of the thermally coupled energy level pairs (2H11/2/4S3/2) of Er3+ ions. In addition, we found that the luminescent color of the synthesized phosphor can span a large color gamut interval with the rise of temperature, realizing the optical temperature measurement based on temperature-induced color coordinate shift. On this basis, we realized dual-mode temperature monitoring and temperature self-calibration during the photothermal conversion process of SrIn2O4: Yb3+, Er3+ phosphors. These results are of great practical value for the application of photothermal conversion fluorescent materials in micro-zone heating and temperature self-monitoring.

Stapled anoplin peptide combined with photothermal therapy enhances oncolytic immunotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer

This study constructed a nano-drug delivery system, A3@GMH, by co-delivering the stapled anoplin peptide(Ano-3, A3) with the light-harvesting material graphene oxide(GO), and evaluated its oncolytic immunotherapy effect on triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC). A3@GMH was prepared using an emulsion template method and its physicochemical properties were characterized. The in vivo and in vitro photothermal conversion abilities of A3@GMH were investigated using an infrared thermal imager. The oncoly-tic activity of A3@GMH against TNBC 4T1 cells was evaluated through cell counting kit-8(CCK-8), lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) release, live/dead cell staining, and super-resolution microscopy. The targeting properties of A3@GMH on 4T1 cells were assessed using a high-content imaging system and flow cytometry. In vitro and in vivo studies were conducted to investigate the antitumor mechanism of A3@GMH in combination with photothermal therapy(PTT) through inducing immunogenic cell death(ICD) in 4T1 cells. The results showed that the prepared A3@GMH exhibited distinct mesoporous and coated structures with an average particle size of(308.9±7.5) nm and a surface potential of(-6.79±0.58) mV. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of A3 were 23.9%±0.6% and 20.5%±0.5%, respectively. A3@GMH demonstrated excellent photothermal conversion ability and biological safety. A3@GMH actively mediated oncolytic features such as 4T1 cell lysis and LDH release, as well as ICD effects, and showed enhanced in vitro antitumor activity when combined with PTT. In vivo, A3@GMH efficiently induced ICD effects with two rounds of PTT, activated the host's antitumor immune response, and effectively suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice, achieving an 88.9% tumor inhibition rate with no apparent toxic side effects. This study suggests that the combination of stapled anoplin peptide and PTT significantly enhances the oncolytic immunotherapy for TNBC and provides a basis for the innovative application of anti-tumor peptides derived from TCM in TNBC treatment.

Superhydrophobic surface of hybrid nanocomposites made of TiO2 and multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Photothermal ice removal performance and wear resistance

Superhydrophobic surfaces have gained significant popularity in industrial production due to their unique structure resembling lotus leaves. Achieving the mechanical stability of superhydrophobic surfaces and improving the self-cleaning and deicing effects have attracted critical research focus. This study incorporated a hybrid composite of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTS), denoted as TiO2-MWCNTS, into an epoxy resin matrix. The hybrid composite was spray-coated onto the substrate and cured, resulting in a superhydrophobic surface with excellent wear resistance and deicing performance. By adjusting the mass ratio of TiO2 and MWCNTS, it was found that a 3:1 ratio exhibited a contact angle (WCA) of 159.8° ± 0.5°. Incorporating the TiO2-MWCNTS hybrid structure not only significantly improved the mechanical durability of the coating surface but also harnessed the outstanding photothermal conversion ability of carbon nanotubes, imparting excellent deicing capability to the coated surface. Therefore, this superhydrophobic surface holds great practical value for outdoor applications.