Themed collection 2018 Journal of Materials Chemistry B HOT Papers

We review the recent advances in quantum dot-based biosensors and focus on quantum dot-based fluorescent, bioluminescent, chemiluminescent, and photoelectrochemical biosensors.

Biodegradable polyester unimolecular systems are the future emerging materials for therapeutic applications.

The exploitation of various inorganic nanoparticles as drug carriers and therapeutics is becoming increasingly common.

This review highlights new insights into the various strategies used to tune the optical features of graphene quantum dots, and their use as attractive and powerful probes for bio-sensing/imaging.

The present review highlights the recent developments in NO-releasing polymeric biomaterials for antimicrobial applications.

Combining therapies on a sheet of carbon is possible!

A series of new conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) with emissive tetraphenylethene-containing backbones and specific targeting pendants are synthesized and characterized.

Investigating the role of lysosome dysfunction in cancer requires the development of efficient probes for lysosomes.

The development of a simplified theranostic system with high-efficiency for multifunctional imaging-guided photodynamic therapy/photothermal therapy (PDT/PTT) is a great challenge.

In this study, we designed a novel dual-readout biosensing protocol for quantitative or qualitative screening of antibiotic residues (Kanamycin; Kana used in this case) using a spectrofluorometer and via naked-eye detection.

We coupled the photothermal and thermoresponsive properties in one nanoplatform by wrapping AuNRs@mSiO₂ with thermoresponsive lipid bilayer.

A pure drug self-delivery system with a cell membrane modified to create a unique class of ideal drug delivery platforms.

A pH-responsive and hydrophilic Al(OH)₃ mediating layer makes possible the promising integration of photothermal therapy and fluorescence imaging based on upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs).

The curcumin–upconversion photodynamic nanosystem exhibits dual antibacterial behavior for MRSA-induced periprosthetic joint infection under NIR irradiation.

A novel label-free PEC immunosensor based on NCQDs and Bi₂S₃ co-sensitized hierarchical mesoporous SnO₂ microflowers was developed for NT-proBNP detection.

Self-immolative polymers, which exert potent antibacterial activity with low hemolytic toxicity to red blood cells, are triggered to unzip into small molecules by a chemical stimulus.

A new light-driven self-powered biosensor based on a photoelectrochemical enzymatic fuel cell was proposed for the ultrasensitive detection of organophosphate pesticides.

Transdermal drug delivery is an attractive, non-invasive treatment.

We propose a porous nanosheet (ultrathin polymer film) wrapping method to noninvasively immobilize suspension cells for their live imaging.

A new sand-casting method for fabricating superhydrophobic materials gives highly durable, flexible, and blood-repelling surfaces useful for cardiovascular medical devices.

Monodisperse poly(glycidyl methacrylate)/polystyrene (PGMA/PS) anisotropic microspheres have been fabricated by seed polymerization for BSA-imprinting microspheres.

Zwitterion-functionalized magnetic particles can efficiently suppress non-specific adsorption of enzymes and can be used for coimmobilization of multienzymes by DNA directed immobilization.

The electrochemical synthesis of multifunctional carbon dots, that are used for a fluorescence-based nanothermometers, nucleolus probe and antialgal agents.

Regulation of cell alignment, elongation and differentiation of hMSCs by micro–nano hybrid patterns.

A special surface modification for coating amphiphilic zwitterionic polymers in a single step for antifouling applications in complex media.

Herein we design a highly hemocompatible erythrocyte membrane-coated ultrasmall selenium nanosystem for simultaneous cancer radiosensitization and precise antiangiogenesis.

We report a supramolecular hierarchical nanocomposite for combination photodynamic, photothermal, and chemotherapy.

As an important biomarker for early cancer diagnosis and a valuable therapeutic target, the detection and monitoring of telomerase activity has attracted extensive attention.

Various kinetic factors were introduced into a traditional salt-leached process to prepare silk scaffolds with tunable mechanical properties and vascularisation capacity.

Adaptive hydrogels tailor-made from silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) possess excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability with properties that are tunable and responsive to multiple simultaneous external stimuli.

PLGA nanofibers with PNA sheath modification achieve enhanced extraction performance and antibiofouling capacity for in vivo sampling in pufferfish.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) has encouraged researchers to investigate its various potential therapeutic uses such as in the treatment of osteoporosis and repair of articular cartilage.

We report a novel strategy to synthesize nano-sized, water-soluble and functionalized fluorinated carbon fiber oxide with high fluorescence, paramagnetism and NIR absorption for cancer chemo-photothermal therapy.

A new exosome-related drug delivery vehicle was explored based on the “STOP” criteria, dramatically promoting the clinical translation of exosomes.

A combination of different therapy strategies has great potential to efficaciously treat malignant tumors, by virtue of their synergetic effects.

Nanoparticle camouflage with serum albumin is formulation specific, does not produce antibodies against the coating, and shields nanoparticle antibody recognition.

Pt nanoparticle-based artificial catalase is decorated on black phosphorus nanosheets, achieving reinforced photodynamic antitumor performance.

Thermoresponsive double network cryogels were prepared from OEG-based dendronized copolymers with PVA, which can reversibly capture and release proteins.

DNA origami nanostructures can serve as a promising carrier for drug delivery due to the outstanding programmability and biocompatibility.

Paclitaxel/doxorubicin-loaded silk fibroin nanospheres were prepared through a facile and green method and showed a synergistic effect on the anti-proliferative activity.

Micropatterned surface with different surface chemistries was fabricated for the direct comparison of their effect on the behaviors of hMSCs and to avoid any batch to batch variations during cell culture.

The PEGylation of anti-EGFR nanobodies was achieved via a transglutaminase catalyzed reaction through a Q-tag. The nanobody tethered drug delivery system exhibits superior specificity to EGFR positive tumor cells.

A new design for a new multifunctional hydrogel that integrates antimicrobial, antifouling, and surface regeneration properties for antimicrobial applications.

A novel fluorescent probe RO610 was applied for the in vivo detection of endogenous ClO⁻ using living mice.