Highlights from Faraday Discussion 170: challenges and opportunities of modern mechanochemistry, Montreal, Canada, 2014

Drug carrier wonders: Synthetic strategies of zeolitic imidazolates frameworks (ZIFs) and their applications in drug delivery and anti-cancer activity

With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology, stimuli-responsive nanomaterials have emerged as a feasible choice for the designing of controlled drug delivery systems. Zeolitic imidazolates frameworks are a subclass of Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are recognized by their excellent porosity, structural tunability and chemical modifications make them promising materials for loading targeted molecules and therapeutics agents. The biomedical industry uses these porous materials extensively as nano-carriers in drug delivery systems. These MOFs not only possess excellent targeted imaging ability but also cause the death of tumor cells drawing considerable attention in the current framework of anticancer drug delivery systems. In this review, the outline of stability, porosity, mechanism of encapsulation and release of anticancer drug have been reported extensively. In the end, we also discuss a brief outline of current challenges and future perspectives of ZIFs in the biomedical world.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) as carrier for improved drug delivery and biosensing applications

Porous organic frameworks (POFs) represent a significant subclass of nanoporous materials in the field of materials science, offering exceptional characteristics for advanced applications. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as a novel and intriguing type of porous material, have garnered considerable attention due to their unique design capabilities, diverse nature, and wide-ranging applications. The unique structural features of COFs, such as high surface area, tuneable pore size, and chemical stability, render them highly attractive for various applications, including targeted and controlled drug release, as well as improving the sensitivity and selectivity of electrochemical biosensors. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the methods employed in creating COFs with specific properties that can be effectively utilized in biomedical applications. To address this indispensable fact, this review paper commences with a concise summary of the different methods and classifications utilized in synthesizing COFs. Second, it highlights the recent advancements in COFs for drug delivery, including drug carriers as well as the classification of drug delivery systems and biosensing, encompassing drugs, biomacromolecules, small biomolecules and the detection of biomarkers. While exploring the potential of COFs in the biomedical field, it is important to acknowledge the limitations that researchers may encounter, which could impact the practicality of their applications. Third, this paper concludes with a thought-provoking discussion that thoroughly addresses the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging COFs for biomedical applications. This review paper aims to contribute to the scientific community's understanding of the immense potential of COFs in improving drug delivery systems and enhancing the performance of biosensors in biomedical applications.

The emerging chemistry of self-electrified water interfaces

Water is known for dissipating electrostatic charges, but it is also a universal agent of matter electrification, creating charged domains in any material contacting or containing it. This new role of water was discovered during the current century. It is proven in a fast-growing number of publications reporting direct experimental measurements of excess charge and electric potential. It is indirectly verified by its success in explaining surprising phenomena in chemical synthesis, electric power generation, metastability, and phase transition kinetics. Additionally, electrification by water is opening the way for developing green technologies that are fully compatible with the environment and have great potential to contribute to sustainability. Electrification by water shows that polyphasic matter is a charge mosaic, converging with the Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars effect, which was discovered one century ago but is still often ignored. Electrified sites in a real system are niches showing various local electrochemical potentials for the charged species. Thus, the electrified mosaics display variable chemical reactivity and mass transfer patterns. Water contributes to interfacial electrification from its singular structural, electric, mixing, adsorption, and absorption properties. A long list of previously unexpected consequences of interfacial electrification includes: "on-water" reactions of chemicals dispersed in water that defy current chemical wisdom; reactions in electrified water microdroplets that do not occur in bulk water, transforming the droplets in microreactors; and lowered surface tension of water, modifying wetting, spreading, adhesion, cohesion, and other properties of matter. Asymmetric capacitors charged by moisture and water are now promising alternative equipment for simultaneously producing electric power and green hydrogen, requiring only ambient thermal energy. Changing surface tension by interfacial electrification also modifies phase-change kinetics, eliminating metastability that is the root of catastrophic electric discharges and destructive explosions. It also changes crystal habits, producing needles and dendrites that shorten battery life. These recent findings derive from a single factor, water's ability to electrify matter, touching on the most relevant aspects of chemistry. They create tremendous scientific opportunities to understand the matter better, and a new chemistry based on electrified interfaces is now emerging.

Spiers Memorial Lecture: Mechanochemistry, tribochemistry, mechanical alloying - retrospect, achievements and challenges

The paper presents a view on the achievements, challenges and prospects of mechanochemistry. The extensive reference list can serve as a good entry point to a plethora of mechanochemical literature.

Sonofragmentation of Organic Molecular Crystals vs Strength of Materials

Mechanochemistry, the interface between the chemical and the mechanical worlds, includes the relationship between the chemical and mechanical properties of solids. In this work, fragmentation of organic molecular crystals during ultrasonic irradiation of slurries has been quantitatively investigated. This has particular relevance to nucleation processes during sonocrystallization, which is increasingly used in the processing and formulation of numerous pharmaceutical agents (PAs). We have discovered that the rates of sonofragmentation are very strongly correlated with the strength of the materials (as measured by Vickers hardness and Young's modulus). This is a mechanochemical extension of the Bell-Evans-Polanyi Principle or Hammond's Postulate: the kinetics (i.e., rates) of solid fracture correlate with thermodynamic properties of solids (e.g., Young's modulus). The mechanism of the particle breakage is consistent with a direct interaction between the shockwaves or localized microjets created by the ultrasound (through acoustic cavitation) and the solid particles in the slurry. Comparisons of the sonofragmentation patterns of ionic and molecular crystals showed that ionic crystals are more sensitive to sonofragmentation than molecular crystals for a given Young's modulus. The rates of sonofragmentation are proposed to correlate with the types and densities of imperfections in the crystals.

New avenues for mechanochemistry in zeolite science

Zeolites are a class of microporous materials with tremendous value for large scale industrial applications such as catalysis, ion exchange, or gas separation. In addition to naturally ocurring variants, zeolites are made synthetically using hydrothermal synthesis, requiring temperatures beyond 100 °C and long reaction times up to weeks. Furthermore, specific applications may require more sophisticated synthesis conditions, expensive reagents, or post-synthetic modifications. Some of these issues can be tackled by using the reemerged technique of mechanochemistry. In 2014, Majano et al. reviewed the space and outlined several possibilities for the usage of mechanical forces in zeolite chemistry. Since then the field has seen many more publications employing mechanochemical methodology to further and improve the synthesis and properties of zeolite materials. The usage ranges from the activation of raw materials, rendering the synthesis of the widely used catalysts much more economical in terms of duration, atom efficiency, and production of waste, to post-synthetic modification of the materials leading to improved properties for target aplications. We present a short review of the advances that have been reported recently, highlight promising work and important studies, and give a perspective of potential future endeavours.

Mechanically induced solvent-free esterification method at room temperature

Herein, we describe two novel strategies for the synthesis of esters, as achieved under high-speed ball-milling (HSBM) conditions at room temperature. In the presence of I2 and KH2PO2, the reactions afford the desired esterification derivatives in 45% to 91% yields within 20 min of grinding. Meanwhile, using KI and P(OEt)3, esterification products can be obtained in 24% to 85% yields after 60 min of grinding. In addition, the I2/KH2PO2 protocol was successfully extended to the late-stage diversification of natural products showing the robustness of this useful approach. Further application of this method in the synthesis of inositol nicotinate was also discussed.

Mechanochemistry of Metal-Organic Frameworks under Pressure and Shock

ConspectusMetal-organic framework solids (MOFs) are synthetic nanoporous materials that have drawn intense efforts in synthesis and characterization of chemical properties, most notably for their ability to adsorb liquids and gases. They are constructed as "node-spacer" nanostructured materials: metal centers (ions or clusters) connected by organic linkers (commonly containing carboxylate or imidazolate groups) to form crystalline, extended, often highly nanoporous structures. MOFs exhibit a variety of advantages over conventional porous materials: rationally designed synthesis of desired crystal structures and crystal engineering become feasible; great synthetic versatility and ease of incorporating different chemical functionalities are realized; and the use of lightweight organic linkers allows for ultrahigh surface area and porosity previously not accessible to conventional materials (i.e., zeolites and porous carbon). As a consequence, MOFs show great promise for a rapidly expanding collection of applications such as gas storage, separations, catalysis, sensing, and drug delivery.The mechanochemistry of MOFs and their response to shock waves, which we discuss in this Account, have been only partially explored. Mechanochemistry, the connection between the mechanical and the chemical worlds, has ancient origins. Rubbing sticks together to start a fire is mechanochemistry. Only in the past decade or so, however, has mechanochemistry gained a notable focus in the chemical community. In the following discussion, we present a general introduction to the complex mechanochemical behavior of MOFs both under quasi-static compression and under shock loading created by high-speed impact. During elastic deformation, MOFs undergo reversible structural or phase transitions. Plastic deformation of MOFs can result in mechanochemistry and can permanently modify the crystal structure, the pore dimensions and configuration, and the chemical bonding. The large energies required to induce bond rearrangement during plastic deformation suggest an interesting potential of MOFs for shock wave mitigation applications.MOFs are promising materials for shock energy dissipation because of the high density of nanopores which can absorb shock energy as they collapse. We have recently developed a platform to assess shock wave energy attenuation by MOFs and other powdered materials. It uses a tabletop laser-driven flyer plate to impact MOF samples at velocities of up to 2.0 km/s. The pressure of the shock waves that break out from the MOF sample can be measured by photon Doppler velocimetry. By measuring the shock profiles of MOF layers with different thicknesses, we can determine the shock pressure attenuation by the MOF layer. We have identified the two-wave structure of shocks in MOFs caused by nanopore collapse. Electron micrographs of recovered shocked MOFs show distinct zones in the shocked material corresponding to shock powder compaction, nanopore collapse, and chemical bond destruction.

The effect of ball mass on the mechanochemical transformation of a single-component organic system: anhydrous caffeine

Mechanochemical methodologies, particularly ball milling, have become commonplace in many laboratories. In the present work, we examine the effects of milling ball mass on the polymorphic conversion of anhydrous caffeine. By investigating a single-phase system, the rate-limiting step of particle-particle contact formation is eliminated. It is found that larger milling balls lead to considerably faster conversion rates. Modelling of the transformation rate suggests that a single, time-independent rate constant is insufficient to describe the transformation. Instead, a convolution of at least two rate-determining processes is required to correctly describe the transformation. This suggests that the early stages of the transformation are governed only by the number of particle-ball collisions. As the reaction proceeds, these collisions less frequently involve reactant, and the rate becomes limited by mass transport, or mixing, even in originally single-phase systems, which become multi-phase as the product is formed. Larger milling balls are less hindered by poorly mixed material. This likely results from a combination of higher impact energies and higher surface areas associated with the larger milling balls. Such insight is important for the selective and targeted design of mechanochemical processes.

Covalent Organic Frameworks: From Materials Design to Biomedical Application

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are newly emerged crystalline porous polymers with well-defined skeletons and nanopores mainly consisted of light-weight elements (H, B, C, N and O) linked by dynamic covalent bonds. Compared with conventional materials, COFs possess some unique and attractive features, such as large surface area, pre-designable pore geometry, excellent crystallinity, inherent adaptability and high flexibility in structural and functional design, thus exhibiting great potential for various applications. Especially, their large surface area and tunable porosity and π conjugation with unique photoelectric properties will enable COFs to serve as a promising platform for drug delivery, bioimaging, biosensing and theranostic applications. In this review, we trace the evolution of COFs in terms of linkages and highlight the important issues on synthetic method, structural design, morphological control and functionalization. And then we summarize the recent advances of COFs in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors and conclude with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities of COFs for biomedical purposes. Although currently still at its infancy stage, COFs as an innovative source have paved a new way to meet future challenges in human healthcare and disease theranostic.

Bond breakage under pressure in a metal organic framework

The internal free volume of porous materials diminishes upon mechanical compression, and such volume collapse can have chemical consequences.

The internal free volume of porous materials diminishes upon mechanical compression, and such volume collapse can have chemical consequences. We report here the endothermic bond breakage in a metal-organic framework (MOF) during compression-induced collapse. Upon bulk compression at 1.9 GPa, the effective number for Zr–O bonds between Zr(iv) ions and carboxylate groups in UiO-66 decreased from 4.0 to 1.9, as determined by EXAFS, and the internal free volume was synchronously collapsed. Consistent with the EXAFS data, IR spectra confirmed conversion of syn–syn bridging carboxylates to monodentate ligation, thus establishing mechanochemical reactions induced by external compression of MOFs. Substantial mechanical energy (∼4 kJ g^–1) was absorbed by UiO-66 nanocrystals during compression, as demonstrated from nanocompression of single crystals (600 nm) in situ during scanning electron microscopy, which establishes the potential application of MOFs as mechanical energy absorbers for hydrostatic and shock compression.

Challenges of Mechanochemistry: Is In Situ Real-Time Quantitative Phase Analysis Always Reliable? A Case Study of Organic Salt Formation

Mechanochemical methods offer unprecedented academic and industrial opportunities for solvent-free synthesis of novel materials. The need to study mechanochemical mechanisms is growing, and has led to the development of real-time in situ X-ray powder diffraction techniques (RI-XRPD). However, despite the power of RI-XRPD methods, there remain immense challenges. In the present contribution, many of these challenges are highlighted, and their effect on the interpretation of RI-XRPD data considered. A novel data processing technique is introduced for RI-XRPD, through which the solvent-free mechanochemical synthesis of an organic salt is followed as a case study. These are compared to ex situ studies, where notable differences are observed. The process is monitored over a range of milling frequencies, and a nonlinear correlation between milling parameters and reaction rate is observed. Kinetic analysis of RI-XRPD allows, for the first time, observation of a mechanistic shift over the course of mechanical treatment, resulting from time evolving conditions within the mechanoreactor.

Advances in Solid-State Transformations of Coordination Bonds: From the Ball Mill to the Aging Chamber

Controlling the formation of coordination bonds is pivotal to the development of a plethora of functional metal-organic materials, ranging from coordination polymers, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to metallodrugs. The interest in and commercialization of such materials has created a need for more efficient, environmentally-friendly routes for making coordination bonds. Solid-state coordination chemistry is a versatile greener alternative to conventional synthesis, offering quantitative yields, enhanced stoichiometric and topological selectivity, access to a wider range of precursors, as well as to molecules and materials not readily accessible in solution or solvothermally. With a focus on mechanochemical, thermochemical and “accelerated aging” approaches to coordination polymers, including pharmaceutically-relevant materials and microporous MOFs, this review highlights the recent advances in solid-state coordination chemistry and techniques for understanding the underlying reaction mechanisms.

Advances in Quantum Mechanochemistry: Electronic Structure Methods and Force Analysis

In quantum mechanochemistry, quantum chemical methods are used to describe molecules under the influence of an external force. The calculation of geometries, energies, transition states, reaction rates, and spectroscopic properties of molecules on the force-modified potential energy surfaces is the key to gain an in-depth understanding of mechanochemical processes at the molecular level. In this review, we present recent advances in the field of quantum mechanochemistry and introduce the quantum chemical methods used to calculate the properties of molecules under an external force. We place special emphasis on quantum chemical force analysis tools, which can be used to identify the mechanochemically relevant degrees of freedom in a deformed molecule, and spotlight selected applications of quantum mechanochemical methods to point out their synergistic relationship with experiments.

The First Synthesis of the Sterically Encumbered Adamantoid Phosphazane P4 (N(t) Bu)6 : Enabled by Mechanochemistry

All reported attempts to synthesize the tert-butyl-substituted adamantoid phosph(III)azane P4 (N(t) Bu)6 have failed, leading to the classification of this molecule as inaccessible and a literature example of steric control in chemistry of phosphorus-nitrogen compounds. We now demonstrate that this structure is readily accessible by a solvent-free mechanochemical milling approach, highlighting the importance of mechanochemical reaction environments in evaluating chemical reactivity.

Phase development during high-energy ball-milling of zinc oxide and iron - the impact of grain size on the source and the degree of contamination

High-energy ball-milling of powder mixtures of zincite (ZnO) and iron (α-Fe) at different weight ratios was performed in air using a planetary ball mill with a stainless steel milling assembly. Structural and microstructural changes during the ball-milling (up to 30 h) were monitored using X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The mechanism of iron oxidation was determined from the results of Mössbauer spectroscopy. It was found that an early phase of ball-milling caused the oxidation of iron from Fe(0) to Fe(2+) followed by the formation of a solid solution structurally similar to wüstite. The wüstite-type phase rapidly disappeared upon prolonged milling, which was accompanied by further oxidation of iron from Fe(2+) to Fe(3+) and the formation of spinel-type ferrite structurally similar to franklinite (ZnFe2O4) in the products with a high zinc content, or magnetite (Fe3O4) in the products with a high iron content. Further milling or annealing had a low impact on the franklinite-type phase, but caused the transition of the magnetite-type phase to the phase structurally similar to hematite (α-Fe2O3). The results of energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) showed a dramatic increase in the degree of contamination with the increase in the proportion of the starting iron (∼9 times higher contamination during the milling of pure iron compared with pure zincite). It was shown that the source of contamination (balls or vial) strongly depends on the type of milled sample. Ball-milling of relatively big and heavy grains (starting iron) caused preferential contamination from the vial whereas ball-milling of smaller and lighter grains (products obtained after prolonged milling) caused preferential contamination from the balls. After prolonged milling the contamination due to wear of the balls was dominant in all the products. An explanation for the observed impact of grain size on the source and the degree of contamination was proposed.

Comprehensive study of the organic-solvent-free CDI-mediated acylation of various nucleophiles by mechanochemistry

Acylation reactions are ubiquitous in the synthesis of natural products and biologically active compounds. Unfortunately, these reactions often require the use of large quantities of volatile and/or toxic solvents, either for the reaction, purification or isolation of the products. Herein we describe and discuss the possibility of completely eliminating the use of organic solvents for the synthesis, purification and isolation of products resulting from the acylation of amines and other nucleophiles. Thus, utilisation of N,N'-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) allows efficient coupling between carboxylic acids and various nucleophiles under solvent-free mechanical agitation, and water-assisted grinding enables both the purification and isolation of pure products. Critical parameters such as the physical state and water solubility of the products, milling material, type of agitation (vibratory or planetary) as well as contamination from wear are analysed and discussed. In addition, original organic-solvent-free conditions are proposed to overcome the limitations of this approach. The calculations of various green metrics are included, highlighting the particularly low environmental impact of this strategy.