Construction and efficient radical cation stabilization of cyclodextrin/aniline polypseudorotaxane and its conjugate with carbon nanotubes

Trapping an Ester Hydrate Intermediate in a π-Stacked Macrocycle with Multiple Hydrogen Bonds

Ester hydrates, as the intermediates of the esterification between acid and alcohol, are very short-lived and challenging to be trapped. Therefore, the crystal structures of ester hydrates have rarely been characterized. Herein, we present that the mono-deprotonated ester hydrates [CH3OSO2(OH)2]-, serving as the template for the self-assembly of a π-stacked boat-shaped macrocycle (CH3OSO2(OH)2)0.67(CH3OSO3)1.33@{[ClLCoII]6}·Cl4·13CH3OH·9H2O (1) (L = tris(2-benzimidazolylmethyl) amine), can be trapped in the host by multiple NH···O hydrogen bonds. In the solution of CoCl2, L, and H2SO4 in MeOH, HSO4- reacts with MeOH, producing [CH3OSO3]- via the ester hydrate intermediate of [CH3OSO3(OH)2]-. Both the product and the intermediate serve as the template directing the self-assembly of the π-stacked macrocycle, in which the short-lived ester hydrate is firmly trapped and stabilized, as revealed by single-crystal analysis.

H2O2-activated in situ polymerization of aniline derivative in hydrogel for real-time monitoring and inhibition of wound bacterial infection

Wound is highly susceptible to bacterial infection, which can cause chronic wound and serial complications. However, timely treatment is hampered by the lack of real-time monitoring of wound status and effective therapeutic systems. Herein, in situ biosynthesis of functional conjugated polymer in artificial hydrogel was developed via the utilization of biological microenvironment to realize monitoring in real time of wound infection and inhibition of bacteria for the first time. Specially, an easily polymerizable aniline dimer derivative (N-(3-sulfopropyl) p-aminodiphenylamine, SPA) was artfully in situ polymerized into polySPA (PSPA) in calcium alginate hydrogel, which was initiated via the catalysis of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) overexpressed in infected wound to produce hydroxyl radical (•OH) by preloaded horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Benefitting from outstanding near infrared (NIR) absorption of PSPA, such polymerization can be ingeniously used for real-time monitoring of H₂O₂ via naked-eye and photoacoustic signal, as well as NIR light-mediated photothermal inhibition of bacteria. Furthermore, combining the persistent chemodynamic activity of •OH, the in vivo experimental data proved that the wound healing rate was 99.03% on the 11th day after treatment. Therefore, the present work opens the way to manipulate in situ biosynthesis of functional conjugated polymer in artificial hydrogels for overcoming the issues on wound theranostics.

Multicharged cyclodextrin supramolecular assemblies

Multicharged cyclodextrin (CD) supramolecular assemblies, including those based on positively/negatively charged modified mono-6-deoxy-CDs, per-6-deoxy-CDs, and random 2,3,6-deoxy-CDs, as well as parent CDs binding positively/negatively charged guests, have been extensively applied in chemistry, materials science, medicine, biological science, catalysis, and other fields. In this review, we primarily focus on summarizing the recent advances in positively/negatively charged CDs and parent CDs encapsulating positively/negatively charged guests, especially the construction process of supramolecular assemblies and their applications. Compared with uncharged CDs, multicharged CDs display remarkably high antiviral and antibacterial activity as well as efficient protein fibrosis inhibition. Meanwhile, charged CDs can interact with oppositely charged dyes, drugs, polymers, and biomacromolecules to achieve effective encapsulation and aggregation. Consequently, multicharged CD supramolecular assemblies show great advantages in improving drug-delivery efficiency, the luminescence properties of materials, molecular recognition and imaging, and the toughness of supramolecular hydrogels, in addition to enabling the construction of multistimuli-responsive assemblies. These features are anticipated to not only promote the development of CD-based supramolecular chemistry but also contribute to the rapid exploitation of these assemblies in diverse interdisciplinary applications.

Cavity-based applications of metallo-supramolecular coordination cages (MSCCs)

This review describes cavity-based applications of cage-like SCCs such as molecular recognition and separation, stabilization of reactive species by encapsulation, as drug delivery systems and as molecular flasks.

Construction of [2]rotaxane-based supramolecular polymers driven by wheel-stopper π⋯π interactions

A new strategy for supramolecular polymerization is designed and presented, which is based on the wheel-stopper charge-transfer interactions of [2]rotaxanes.

Targeted lipid-polyaniline hybrid nanoparticles for photoacoustic imaging guided photothermal therapy of cancer

Designing a targeted and versatile photothermal agent for the integration of precise diagnosis and effective photothermal treatment of tumors is desirable but remains a great challenge. In this study, folic acid ligand conjugated lipid-coated polyaniline hybrid nanoparticles (FA-Lipid-PANI NPs) were successfully fabricated by a distinctive technology. The obtained hybrid FA-Lipid-PANI NPs with small size exhibited not only significant photoacoustic (PA) imaging signals, but also a remarkable photothermal effect for tumor treatment. With PA imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT), the tumor could be accurately positioned and thoroughly eradicated in vivo after intravenous injection of FA-Lipid-PANI NPs. These multifunctional nanoparticles could play an important role in simultaneously facilitating imaging and PTT to achieve better therapeutic efficacy.

Rapamycin/DiR loaded lipid-polyaniline nanoparticles for dual-modal imaging guided enhanced photothermal and antiangiogenic combination therapy

Imaging-guided photothermal therapy (PTT) has promising application for treating tumors. Nevertheless, so far imaging-guided photothermal drug-delivery systems have been developed with limited success for tumor chemo-photothermal therapy. In this study, as the proof-of-concept, a stimuli-responsive tumor-targeting rapamycin/DiR loaded lipid-polyaniline nanoparticle (RDLPNP) for dual-modal imaging-guided enhanced PTT efficacy is reported for the first time. In this system, polyaniline (PANI) with π-π electronic conjugated system and effective photothermal efficiency is chosen as the appropriate model receptor of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and loaded cyanine probe (e.g., 1,1-dioctadecyl-3,3,3,3-tetramethylindotricarbocyanine iodide, DiR) acts as the donor of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF). In addition, rapamycin (RAPA), which is used as the antiangiogenesis chemotherapeutic drug, can cutdown the tumor vessels and delay tumor growth obviously. After intravenous treatment of RDLPNPs into Hela tumor bearing mice, fluorescent (from DiR) and enhanced photoacoustic (from DLPNPs) signals were found in tumor site over time, which reached to peak at the 6h time point. After irradiating with an NIR laser, a good anti-tumor effect was observed owing to the enhanced photothermal and antiangiogenic effect of RDLPNPs. These results show that the multifunctional nanoparticle can be used as a promising imaging-guided photothermal drug delivery nanoplatform for cancer therapy.

Stabilization of reactive species by supramolecular encapsulation

This review describes and updated overview of the stabilization of reactive species and reaction intermediates by inclusion in nanocavities provided by covalent- and supra-molecular containers.

Construction and Functions of Cyclodextrin-Based 1D Supramolecular Strands and their Secondary Assemblies

Cyclodextrins (CDs), a class of cyclic oligosaccharides, are water-soluble, nontoxic, and commercial available with a low price, and their well-defined hydrophobic cavity can bind various organic/biological substrates. Through their molecular assembly mediated by organic, inorganic, or polymeric molecules as templates, CDs and their functional derivatives can be assembled to 1D supramolecular strands, wherein the functional groups of the CDs are closely located in a highly ordered manner. This structural feature greatly favors the cooperative effect of numerous functional groups in the supramolecular strand, as well as the interactions of the supramolecular strands with the multiple binding sites of substrates, especially biological substrates. Therefore, CD-based 1D supramolecular strands exhibit many material, biological, and catalytic functions, and these properties can be further improved through their secondary assembly. An overview of recent advances in the development of the construction and functions of CD-based 1D supramolecular strands and their secondary assemblies is given here. It is expected that the representative contributions described can inspire future investigations and lead to discoveries that promote the research of CD-based functional materials.

Cyclodextrin-functionalized hollow carbon nanospheres by introducing nanogold for enhanced electrochemical sensing of o-dihydroxybenzene and p-dihydroxybenzene

A cyclodextrin–gold nanoparticles/hollow carbon nanospheres nanohybrid was prepared for the sensitive simultaneous electrochemical sensing of o- and p-dihydroxybenzene.

Water-soluble hyaluronic acid–hybridized polyaniline nanoparticles for effectively targeted photothermal therapy

Water-soluble hyaluronic acid–hybridized polyaniline nanoparticles show effective photothermal ablation of cancer with targeted specificity.

Molecular cable-like 1-D iodic spiral chains covered with triple helices stabilized in guest-included chiral porous framework

The supramolecular crystal {[Pr(DMFA)](3)[Ni(II)(Hbim)(3)](2)I}(n) with intricate chiral networks of [Ni(II)(Hbim)(3)](-) molecules is reported. It includes a cationic architecture as a guest, constructed from chiral nanotubes that penetrate I(-) chains with spiral channels wrapped by triple helices. The I(-) chains have AC conductivity in crystals like a molecular cable.

Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin containing copolymer via "click" chemistry and its self-assembly in the presence of guest compounds

We report the synthesis of a hydrophilic copolymer with one polyethylene glycol (PEG) block and one β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) containing block by a "click" reaction between azido-substituted β-CD and propargyl flanking copolymer. (1)H NMR study suggested a highly efficient conjugation of β-CD units by this approach. The obtained copolymer was used as a host macromolecule to construct assemblies in the presence of hydrophobic guests. For assemblies containing a hydrophobic polymer, their size can be simply adjusted by simply changing the content of hydrophobic component. By serving as a guest molecule, hydrophobic drugs can also be loaded accompanying the formation of nanoparticles, and the drug payload is releasable. Therefore, the copolymer synthesized herein can be employed as a carrier for drug delivery.