Latest ArticlesResidual ions introduced during catalyst synthesis can significantly impact both the structure and performance of the catalyst. Despite their crucial role, the effects of these residual ions are frequently overlooked in catalyst design and optimization. This review systematically surveys the characteristics and sources of typical residual ions in catalytic systems, including halogen anions, acidic anions, and alkali metal cations. It also examines their impact on both the supports and active metals of supported catalysts, as well as the alterations in surface, crystal structure, and chemical states of non-supported catalysts. The effects of residual ions on the performance of these catalysts in catalytic reactions such as oxidation and hydrogenation are discussed in detail. Additionally, the influence mechanism of residual ions on the catalysts is further explored, with a focus on their promotion and inhibition roles in catalytic processes, thus providing insights for the development of more efficient and durable catalysts. A summary finally provides an outlook on future approaches to advance catalyst preparation and mitigate the adverse effects of residual ions in catalysis.
In this study, two chiral cationic cage-shaped hosts were successfully self-assembled via imine condensation, achieving near-quantitative yields. Compared with the counterparts bearing a single imine bond, the intrinsic multivalency of the cage frameworks confers significant robustness to the cages, even when exposed to aqueous environments. Each cage features three relatively acidic CH protons oriented towards the interior cavity or clefts, enabling the efficient recognition of anionic guests through cooperative hydrogen bonding. The cage containing pyridinium functions adopts a pseudo face-in conformation, thus it accommodates anionic guests in its peripheral windows in a 1:2 stoichiometry. As a comparison, the cage containing imidazolium functions adopts an edge-in conformation, and thus recognizes the anions within the cavity in a 1:1 binding stoichiometry.
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) represents a specific form of tumor cell death that has the potential to elicit a tumor-specific immune response, resulting in a systemic anti-tumor effect and providing therapeutic benefits for metastatic lesions. The extensive research in this field has led to numerous studies confirming that during the induction of ICD, tumor cells can release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which can be used as biomarkers to predict anti-cancer efficiency. However, few ratiometric fluorescent probes have been developed to tackle this fluctuation in living cells. In this study, we present a novel ratiometric fluorescence probe based on semiconducting polymer nanoparticles (SPNs) and carbon dots (CDs) for the sensing of DAMPs fluctuation in the ICD process by choosing adenosine triphosphate as a model. In this design, the fluorescence intensity of SPNs could not be affected by the change of target, while CDs could selectively respond to target, therefore realizing the ratiometric sensing of DAMPs. The ratiometric probe was successfully applied in real-time monitoring of the fluctuating concentration of DAMPs induced by doxorubicin in living cells. These results demonstrate that the ratiometric probe may become a promising agent for predicting anti-cancer efficiency.
Nanozymes-mediated catalytic therapy is an emerging approach for tumor treatment, but the performance of the nanozymes is limited by low enzyme catalytic efficiency, low reaction substrate concentration, and immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment. Herein, a hollow gold nanorods loaded with oxygen-carrying hemoglobin (HAuHbO2) nanozyme with high enzyme catalytic efficiency is reported. In the tumor microenvironment, HAuHbO2 shows dual enzyme activities of glucose oxidase (GOD) and peroxidase (POD) for spontaneous cascade catalytic reactions to realize chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Meanwhile, it exerts excellent photothermal conversion ability for photothermal therapy (PTT). This study also reports the antitumor ability of HAuHbO2, including its mechanism of action in vivo. HAuHbO2 can induce the occurrence of immunogenic cell death (ICD) with the involvement of near-infrared light, which in turn induces the immune response of the organism. Overall, a simple, ingenious, and multifunctional nanozyme is designed in this study, which can provide a basis for applying nanozymes in antitumor therapy.
The heavy biofouling on electrochemical sensor surface poses a formidable challenge for biosensing in human blood. Herein, we designed a multilayer filtering-sensing sandwich patch that served as a versatile platform to surmount the substantial fouling constraints for detection in human blood. The patch integrated two functional layers: (i) Inspired by dialysis phenomenon, a filtering-mass transfer hydrophilic membrane with heterogeneous nanostructure was used to filter large-size substances (like cells, bacteria and microorganisms, etc.) and continuously pass through the rest of the biological fluid (like proteins, metabolites and inorganic salts, etc.). (ii) the polypeptide composite hydrogel (rGO/PEPG) on the screen-printed electrode (SPE) surface, with the modulation of -COOH and -NH2 groups, endowed a strong hydrophilic layer with electric neutrality to further facilitate the antifouling ability. Notably, the integration of the filtering porous membrane with the antifouling hydrogel ensures the strong antifouling ability of the electrochemical sensor in complex human blood. Furthermore, the self-healing property of the rGO/PEPG, relying on the physical π-π stacking forces, aligns the electrochemical sensor with practical needs. The constructed antifouling biosensor based on the filtering-sensing sandwich patch was successfully applied for the sensitive detection of cortisol in human blood, with an acceptable accuracy comparable to the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. The strategy presented herein represent a promising advance along the road to construct effective antifouling biosensing devices with robust operation in diverse complex body fluids.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by complex pathological features such as amyloid-β plaques and tau tangles. Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective intervention, yet remains challenging. This review focuses on current and emerging imaging modalities used in AD detection, including positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and mass spectrometry imaging, with an emphasis on their mechanisms, advantages, and limitations. Special attention is given to the integration of nanotechnology with imaging platforms, highlighting how nanomaterials enhance diagnostic specificity, sensitivity, stability and therapeutic potential. The review also explores recent advances in multimodal imaging, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics, and future directions toward personalized and other non-invasive strategies for early AD diagnosis.
To implement the principle of utilizing waste to address waste issues, porous carbon catalytic materials, prepared through a straightforward process involving NaOH-assisted microwave pyrolysis of ubiquitous waste plastics, were employed to degrade pollutants via peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) derived P1S2 exhibited characteristics of defects enrichment and CO formation, while H1S2, prepared by carbonization of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), possessed a large number of COH and defects. Metal-free catalysts P1S2 and H1S2 exhibited excellent tetracycline (TC) degradation performance, with the rate constants up to 0.303 min-1 and 0.235 min-1. Interestingly, mechanism studies demonstrated that the types of waste plastic precursor had a significant impact on the pathways involved in TC degradation. Specifically, carbon defects in P1S2 dominated the electron transfer nonradial degradation pathway of TC; However, COH in H1S2 served as the reactive site for main active species SO4•−/•OH generation, initiating a free radical pathway. In addition, by combining Fukui function calculation and LC-MS test during the TC degradation process, the vulnerable sites attacked by active species were identified; different degradation routes of TC in nonradial and radial pathways were proposed and discussed. Furthermore, the toxicity of all intermediates was analyzed using the toxicity assessment software. This study offers fresh insights into the critical role of carbocatalysts derived from various waste plastics in both nonradical and radical activation processes of PMS.
Nanozymes, particularly single-atom nanozymes (SAzymes), have gained attention as potential ferroptosis inducers for cancer therapy due to their high catalytic efficiency and selectivity. However, the catalytic activity of SAzymes is often limited by the symmetrical electronic structure at their active sites. To enhance their performance, heteroatom doping strategies have been applied to modulate the electronic properties of SAzyme catalysts. In this study, we synthesized sulfur-doped FNS SAzymes with an Fe-N-S-C asymmetric coordination structure through pyrolysis. Enzyme kinetics analysis and density functional theory calculations revealed that FNS SAzymes exhibit highly efficient peroxidase-like and glutathione oxidase-like activities. These nanozymes are capable of catalyzing the decomposition of H2O2 to produce reactive oxygen species and depleting glutathione (GSH), thereby inducing ferroptosis. The FNS SAzymes were combined with an alkyl radical (•R) initiator, 2,2-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH), and assembled into microneedle patches for enhanced ferroptosis therapy (FNSA-MN). Beyond the dual enzyme activities of FNS SAzymes, 808 nm laser activation induced a photothermal effect that facilitated the rapid dissociation of AIPH to generate •R. This FNSA-MN significantly enhanced lipid peroxidation within cells, thereby promoting ferroptosis. In vivo studies demonstrated significant suppression of tumor growth and strong anti-metastatic effects, highlighting a promising strategy for localized cancer therapy.
Osteoarthritis (OA), as a multifactorial degenerative joint disorder, is pathologically characterized by structural joint destruction and functional impairment, ultimately leading to chronic locomotor dysfunction. Clinically, intra-articular (IA) injection remains the preferred approach for localized OA treatment due to its advantages of high bioavailability, precise dosing, and minimal systemic side effects. However, frequent IA interventions may induce complications such as patient discomfort, pain, or even infection. Hydrogel materials, with their unique hydrophilic network structures and viscoelastic mechanical properties, are regarded as ideal joint cavity supplements and efficient drug carriers, making them a promising platform for localized therapy. This article systematically reviews recent advances in injectable hydrogel-based OA treatments. First, from a materials science perspective, it comprehensively analyzes the classification of injectable hydrogels (natural/synthetic polymers), their crosslinking mechanisms (chemical/physical/ionic), and environmental responsiveness (temperature/pH/ion triggers). Subsequently, it delves into their therapeutic potential in OA management, covering three major applications: controlled release of small-molecule drugs, cell delivery, and gene therapy. Despite the demonstrated prospects of hydrogels in OA therapy, attributed to their mechanical adaptability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, key scientific challenges persist, particularly in maintaining IA mechanical homeostasis and long-term structural integrity. The review emphasizes that future research should focus on optimizing hydrogel architectures and enhancing delivery system functionalities to achieve sustained therapeutic efficacy in OA.
Organoboron compounds have garnered significant attention in the fields of organic synthesis, materials science, medicinal chemistry and fine chemicals. In the past few decades, transition metal-catalyzed C–H borylation has been developed rapidly and efficiently. In recent years, in order to explore eco-friendly, economical and efficient method for constructing C–B bond, chemists are dedicated to developing metal-free BX3-mediated borylation. In this review, we present a systematic and comprehensive overview of the borylation driven by BX3 with different directing group auxiliary in the fields of organic synthesis and boron-containing organic materials since 2010, including (1) nitrogen directed C–H borylation, (2) oxygen directed C–H borylation, (3) sulfur directed C–H borylation and (4) phosphorus directed C–H borylation. The methods of borylation processes as well as the substance scopes, limits, and mechanisms of these routes are also discussed.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62662699(Operation and Technical Support)
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
