Themed collection Journal of Materials Chemistry B HOT Papers

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is a human serine hydrolase, which plays critical roles in various physiological and pathological states. Here, we summarized the optical probes that can selectively monitor the BChE activity in different biological models.

A Ni nanoparticle-decorated TiO₂ nanoribbon array on a Ti plate serves as a highly efficient electrode for non-enzymatic glucose biosensing in alkaline environments.

Ionizable lipids with branched tails enhance the selective mRNA delivery to spleen, particularly to antigen-presenting cells.

A novel drug delivery system hitchhiking albumin as a drug carrier with tuneable redox-responsive drug release.

Thiol-containing hyperbranched polysiloxane, a unconventional luminescent polymer, for scavenging intracellular reactive oxygen species.

A biodegradable HCSL nanoreactor was constructed by the in situ encapsulation of 10-hydroxycamptothecin into a calcium sulfite nanocarrier and then modifying liposomes for tumor-enhanced SO₂ gas therapy in combination with chemotherapy.

Inspired by the excellent substrate loading of drug-delivery gels, we design and develop thermoreversible physical gels with a gelling solvent solely composed of insect repellent that demonstrates mosquito repellency for more than half a year.

A multifunctional MOF-integrated polymeric coating was deposited on the substrate surface in a one-step process to eradicate the adhered bacteria via combined antibacterial chemotherapeutic and photothermal therapeutic effects.

RAB-EXO, a macrophage-derived exosome with a ROS-cleavable peptide, targets bone in osteomyelitis, releasing antimicrobial peptides to inhibit bacteria and promoting M2 macrophage differentiation to reduce inflammation.

High-strength fibrous sensor can collect resistance signals from injured Achilles tendon and convert them into bearing stress with ideal accuracy, which would favor the assessment of tissue healing and pave the way for personalized treatment.

RGD-engineered phage nanofibers exhibit a safe profile with efficient biodistribution and minimal immune response, promising for therapeutic applications.

A NO-induced urea-bond cleavage reaction is developed and utilized to generally construct fluorescent probes for imaging NO in living systems.

Fluorescent probes target serotonin transporter and discern H₂O₂ in serotonergic neurons in living brains of mice.

The combination bio-inspired nacre-like structure with biocompatible raw materials leads to mechanically strong and robust barrier membranes with improved periodontal guided bone regeneration performance.

Simultaneous analysis of breast cancer biomarkers HER2 and miRNA-21 based on DSN.

A novel biomimetic peroxidase nanozymes named Hemin-His-Fe (HHF)-peroxidase nanozyme was synthesized for the broad-spectrum degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Conjugating SN38 with small hydrophilic molecules via a biodegradable linker results in small molecule self-assembling prodrugs that form well-defined nanofibers with varying surface charges in water.

This work shows the biocatalytic ATP regulation induced self-assembly of one-dimensional nanostructures akin to the self-assembly process of actin. Coupled ATP generation and ATP hydrolysis render the supramolecular aggregates transient.

NIR-II conjugated polymers with typical AIE characteristics have been fabricated for bight NIR-II fluorescence imaging guided photothermal therapy of cancer.

Transient absorption spectroscopy has revealed that AIEgens exhibit a more rapid and facile excited-state molecular motion in the solution state compared to the aggregate state, implying the predominance of nonradiative decay in the solution state.

Stimuli-responsive supramolecular chemotherapy, particularly in response to cancer biomarkers, has emerged as a promising strategy to overcome the limitations associated with traditional chemotherapy.

The amphiphilic anionic ferrabis(dicarbollide) boron-rich small molecule effectively penetrates the nucleus as a carrier-free drug and intercalates with ds-DNA base pairs, making it a promising candidate for multimodal cancer radiotherapy.

Herein, we successfully prepared matrix-degrading soft-nanocapsules with enhanced penetration ability for tumors, which effectively improves the photodynamic therapeutic efficacy.

A multifunctional platform integrating artificial intelligence, hydrophilic nanosheets, and MALDI-MS testing. This platform aims to achieve highly sensitive hydrophilic peptide fingerprints for accurate hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis.

Based on the antibacterial effects and adsorption of the porous ZnO microspheres, a thermosensitive hydrogel dressing containing CNPs and ZnO@CNPs was designed for wound healing applications.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a pivotal tool in contemporary medical diagnostics, offering non-invasive and high-resolution visualization of internal structures.

The CAM-F hydrogel can achieve rapid microbial inactivation against E. coli and S. aureus. Based on Ag⁺, PDT, and PTT synergistic antibacterial properties, CAM-F hydrogels can effectively adhere to bacteria and destroy their cell membranes.

This study conducted the first comprehensive in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility assessment of twelve typical sulfide compounds, identifying promising thermoelectric biomaterials and establishing a foundation for their application in biomedicine.

Microenvironment-responsive release of Mg²⁺ from tannic acid-decorated, multilevel crosslinked hydrogels with ROS scavenging, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue regenerative properties for accelerated healing of infected wounds.

The combination of self-healing property and controlled release of corrosion inhibitor yield polymer coatings with excellent anticorrosion properties.

Organic luminescent radicals are a new class of materials. New water-soluble tris(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM) radicals were synthesized, and potential as fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging agent was investigated.

A hydrogel-based flexible sensor based on hydrophobicity-assisted metal ion coordination is reported for human movement monitoring and physiological signal detection.

Illustration of the multifunctional hydrogel exhibiting excellent mechanical properties, adhesion, antibacterial and antioxidant activities, and wound healing capabilities.

The synthesis and application of microscale metal–organic framework (MOF)/enzyme composite particles as a novel detection probe to enhance the sensitivity of ELISA.

The robust and biodegradable hydroxyapatite/poly(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (nHA/PLCL) electrospun membrane demonstrated anti-adhesion, prevention of CSF leakage, and pro-dura reconstruction capacities.

A stretchable lignin-reinforced physical eutectogel was constructed and used as a wearable strain sensor, which displays promising potential in human motion detection and gesture recognition by combing with deep-learning techniques.

Radioactive hybrid semiconducting polymer nanoparticles are developed for imaging-guided photothermal–photodynamic–sonodynamic tri-modal therapy of breast cancer.

Nanovaccine conjugated via a retro-Diels–Alder reaction achieves lymph node deep penetration of antigens for enhancing vaccine efficacy.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe with high fluorescence efficiency in hydrophilic environment was developed. The probe not only tracked changes in cell polarity, but also found abnormal brain polarity in APP/PS1 mice compared to wild-type mice.

A carbonized nanoinhibitor derived from a small molecule pyroptosis inhibitor is constructed to ameliorate drug-induced acute kidney injury by inhibiting pyroptosis with a favorable kidney-targeting ability and high therapeutic efficacy.

The dual delivery of CO and DOX using HemoAct is a promising strategy as an anti-tumour agent to realise well-tolerated cancer therapy with minimal cardiotoxicity.

Regulation effects of three aniline-based squaraines were investigated. The first expression of distinct tissue labelling and high-resolution 3D reconstruction in the onion and plant cells induced by the subtle structure changes was further evaluated.

An ESIPT-based dual-color fluorescent probe (BDM-DNP) can detect H₂S and N₂H₄ in environmental and biological systems.

We explored a new way of utilizing the ESP difference to improve the molecular packing of (A–D–A) type molecules, and obtained a series of NIR PTAs with good PTT performance. The in vivo antitumor study demonstrates effective suppression of tumors.

Enhancing the antibacterial properties by regulating valence configurations of copper: a focus on Cu-carboxyl chelates.

The study focused on the fine refinement of PNIPAM-based materials, resulting in enhanced biocompatibility and drug loading for a smart hydrogel system with multi-responsive 5-FU release.

The ability to detect and visualize cellular events and associated biological analytes is essential for the understanding of their physiological and pathological functions.

pH/ROS/glucose triple-responsive OAH@TA hydrogel elicits controlled TA release, enhancing antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties to facilitate diabetic wound healing.

Material repurposing is proposed where the performance of carbonyl iron powder (CIP), a nutritional intervention agent of iron supplement approved by the US FDA for iron deficiency anemia in clinic, was explored in anti-cancer treatment.

Different organelle-staining behaviors of OQ and PQ, and intracellular translocation of OQ caused by the changes of CMP and MMP.

The tetramethylpyrazine-loaded conductive hydrogel could diminish the breakdown of the blood–spinal cord barrier and protect against neuronal cell death to synergistically restore neurological functions post spinal cord injury.

Drug-loaded composite hydrogel microspheres HAMA@Lipo@CyA (HLC) alleviate osteoarthritis by suppressing inflammation and restoring the cartilage matrix.

A defect-rich hollow Schottky heterojunction sonosensitizer, constructed by defect engineering and noble metal enrichment, exhibits an amplified treatment effect for sonodynamic therapy due to the inhibition effect of electron–hole pair recombination.

The tailored nanomedicine 5-FU-LA@PPL could selectively combat Fn, inhibit autophagy in CRC cells, restore chemosensitivity of 5-FU as well as OxPt, and consequently enhance the combination chemotherapy effects for Fn-associated drug-resistant CRC.

SaRNA was formulated with six different polymer carriers to generate saRNA-polyplexes. After screening for transfection efficiency, compared to a lipid-based standard, the best performing ones were characterized in detail and administered to mice.

Aryl functioned S-rhodamines were presented as mitochondrion-targeted photosensitizers with different photodynamic therapy activities.

Nanoparticles identifying bacteria and forming a bacterial extracellular trap (BET). LPS induced in situ transformation and self-assembly of BET nanoparticles were shown to trap Gram-negative bacteria.

Schematic diagram of the preparation process of P(APM/MPC)-OCS-BP and the function model of P(APM/MPC)-OCS-BP with anti-coagulation, anti-calcification, and anti-inflammatory properties and a high capacity to promote endothelial proliferation.

Schematic diagram of the preparation of the enzyme-responsive nanoplatform HA-CP@Fe₃O₄ and its application in the study of antibacterial infection in vivo.

An X-ray responsive RCNprotac with enhanced tumor accumulation for BRD4 proteolysis and enhanced radiosensitization is reported.

Nanotheranostics (IN-DPPCO NPs) based on a conjugated polymer IN-DPP and a carbon monoxide (CO) carrier polymer mPEG(CO) are reported for H₂O₂-triggered controllable carbon monoxide delivery for photothermal augmented gas therapy.

A dual-targeted contrast agent, RGD-(DOTA-Gd)-TPP (RDP), was synthesized, in which RGD is used to target the α_vβ₃ integrin receptor overexpressed in tumor cells and TPP is used to bind to a mitochondrion further.

Here, we designed and synthesized two donor–acceptor (D–A) conjugated polymers with DPP as the receptor. The polymer nanoparticles have broad application prospects in biological imaging and photothermal therapy.

A series of subcellular targeted probes with hypersensitivity (reaction time <60 s, detection limit at the nmol level) to nitric oxide (NO) were developed to map NO fluctuations at the subcellular level.

An injectable photocurable hydrogel based on methacrylated dopamine and silk fibroin constructs an antioxidant protein microenvironment, which prevents oxidative stress in vitro, and promotes collagen disposition and angiogenesis in vivo.