The focus of drug delivery is shifting toward smart drug carriers that release the cargo in response to a change in the microenvironment due to an internal or external trigger. As the most clinically successful nanosy...The focus of drug delivery is shifting toward smart drug carriers that release the cargo in response to a change in the microenvironment due to an internal or external trigger. As the most clinically successful nanosystem, liposomes naturally come under the spotlight of this trend. This review summarizes the latest development about the design and construction of photo-responsive liposomes with gold nanoparticles for the controlled drug release. Alongside, we overview the mechanism involved in this process and the representative applications.展开更多
Synthetic hydrogels are widely used as biomimetic in vitro model systems to understand how cells respond to complex microenvironments. The mechanical properties of hydrogels are deterministic for many cellular behavio...Synthetic hydrogels are widely used as biomimetic in vitro model systems to understand how cells respond to complex microenvironments. The mechanical properties of hydrogels are deterministic for many cellular behaviors, including cell migration, spreading, and differentiation. However, it remains a major challenge to engineer hydrogels that recapture the dynamic mechanical properties of native extracellular matrices. Here, we provide a new hydrogel platform with spatiotemporally tunable mechanical properties to assay and define cellular behaviors under light. The change in the mechanical properties of the hydrogel is effected by a photo-induced switch of the cross-linker fluorescent protein, Dronpa145N, between the tetrameric and monomeric states, which causes minimal changes to the chemical properties of the hydrogel. The mechanical properties can be rapidly and reversibly tuned for multiple cycles using visible light, as confirmed by rheological measurements and atomic force microscopy- based nano-indentation. We further demonstrated real-time and reversible modulation of cell migration behaviors on the hydrogels through photo-induced stiffness switching, with minimal invasion to the cultured cells. Hydrogels with a programmable mechanical history and a spatially defined mechanical hierarchy might serve as an ideal model system to better understand complex cellular functions.展开更多
Developing hydroscopic actuators with simultaneous high elasticity,shape programmability and tunable actuating behaviors are highly desired but still challenging.In this study,we propose an orthogonal composite design...Developing hydroscopic actuators with simultaneous high elasticity,shape programmability and tunable actuating behaviors are highly desired but still challenging.In this study,we propose an orthogonal composite design to develop such a material.The developed composite elastomer comprises carboxyl group-grafted polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene(SEBS-g-COOH)as the elastic substrate,and a synthesized azobenzene derivative as the functional filler(Azo12).By surface treatment using acidic and base solutions,the carboxyl groups on the surface can reversibly transform into carboxylate groups,which render the composite tunable hygroscopic actuating functionality.On another aspect,the added filler undergoes trans-to-cis isomerization when exposed to UV light irradiation,leading to liquefaction of the crystalline aggregates formed by Azo12 molecules.The liquefied Azo12 molecules can autonomously resotre their trans form and reform the crystalline structure.This reversible change in crystralline structure is utilized to realize the shape memory property,and 5 wt%of Azo12addition is adequate for the composite to exhibit photo-responsive shape memory behavior without compromising much of the elasricity.The regualtion of external geometry by shape memory effect is effective in altering the actuating behavior.The proposed method can be extend to designing different composites with the demonstrated functionalities.展开更多
The development of artificial light-harvesting systems based on long-range ordered ultrathin organic nanomaterials(i.e., below3 nm), which were assembled from stimuli-responsive sequence-controlled biomimetic polymers...The development of artificial light-harvesting systems based on long-range ordered ultrathin organic nanomaterials(i.e., below3 nm), which were assembled from stimuli-responsive sequence-controlled biomimetic polymers, remains challenging. Herein,we report the self-assembly of azobenzene-containing amphiphilic ternary alternating peptoids to construct photo-responsive ultrathin peptoids nanoribbons(UTPNRs) with a thickness of ~2.3 nm and the length in several micrometers. The pendants hydrophobic conjugate stacking mechanism explained the formation of one-dimensional ultrathin nanostructures, whose thickness was highly dependent on the length of side groups. The photo-isomerization of azobenzene moiety endowed the aggregates with a reversible morphology transformation from UTPNRs to spherical micelles(46.5 nm), upon the alternative irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light. Donor of 4-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole(NBD) and acceptor of rhodamine B(RB) were introduced onto the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, respectively, to generate photocontrollable artificial light-harvesting systems. Compared with the spheres-based systems, the obtained NBD-UTPNRs@RB composite proved a higher energy transfer efficiency(90.6%) and a lower requirement of RB acceptors in water. A proof-ofconcept use as fluorescent writable ink demonstrated the potential of UTPNRs on information encryption.展开更多
Photo-responsive polymer materials from zero-dimensional micelles, two-dimensional surfaces to three-dimensional hydrogels have been designed, synthesized and applied for various biological fields including drug deliv...Photo-responsive polymer materials from zero-dimensional micelles, two-dimensional surfaces to three-dimensional hydrogels have been designed, synthesized and applied for various biological fields including drug delivery and cell manipulation. Many remarkable works have been reported, revealing the advantages of photo-responsive polymers such as noninvasion and spatiotemporal control. In this review, we briefly summarized the remarkable progress of photo-responsive polymers with irreversible or reversible moieties and their further biological applications. The future opportunities and challenges of photo-responsive polymer materials are also proposed.展开更多
文摘The focus of drug delivery is shifting toward smart drug carriers that release the cargo in response to a change in the microenvironment due to an internal or external trigger. As the most clinically successful nanosystem, liposomes naturally come under the spotlight of this trend. This review summarizes the latest development about the design and construction of photo-responsive liposomes with gold nanoparticles for the controlled drug release. Alongside, we overview the mechanism involved in this process and the representative applications.
基金We thank Dr. W. Meng for his initial experiments on this project. This work is funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （Nos. 21522402, 21474003, 91427304, 11372279, 11572285, 11674153,11374148, and 11334004）, the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities （Nos. 020414380070 and 020414380058）, the National Basic Research Program of China （Nos. 2012CB921801 and 2013CB834100） and the National High-tech R＆D Program of China （No. 2015AA020941）.
文摘Synthetic hydrogels are widely used as biomimetic in vitro model systems to understand how cells respond to complex microenvironments. The mechanical properties of hydrogels are deterministic for many cellular behaviors, including cell migration, spreading, and differentiation. However, it remains a major challenge to engineer hydrogels that recapture the dynamic mechanical properties of native extracellular matrices. Here, we provide a new hydrogel platform with spatiotemporally tunable mechanical properties to assay and define cellular behaviors under light. The change in the mechanical properties of the hydrogel is effected by a photo-induced switch of the cross-linker fluorescent protein, Dronpa145N, between the tetrameric and monomeric states, which causes minimal changes to the chemical properties of the hydrogel. The mechanical properties can be rapidly and reversibly tuned for multiple cycles using visible light, as confirmed by rheological measurements and atomic force microscopy- based nano-indentation. We further demonstrated real-time and reversible modulation of cell migration behaviors on the hydrogels through photo-induced stiffness switching, with minimal invasion to the cultured cells. Hydrogels with a programmable mechanical history and a spatially defined mechanical hierarchy might serve as an ideal model system to better understand complex cellular functions.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.51803115 and 21636006)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Nos.GK201901001,2021CSLY008,2021CSZL003 and GK202103032)the Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi(No.2020TD-024)。
文摘Developing hydroscopic actuators with simultaneous high elasticity,shape programmability and tunable actuating behaviors are highly desired but still challenging.In this study,we propose an orthogonal composite design to develop such a material.The developed composite elastomer comprises carboxyl group-grafted polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene(SEBS-g-COOH)as the elastic substrate,and a synthesized azobenzene derivative as the functional filler(Azo12).By surface treatment using acidic and base solutions,the carboxyl groups on the surface can reversibly transform into carboxylate groups,which render the composite tunable hygroscopic actuating functionality.On another aspect,the added filler undergoes trans-to-cis isomerization when exposed to UV light irradiation,leading to liquefaction of the crystalline aggregates formed by Azo12 molecules.The liquefied Azo12 molecules can autonomously resotre their trans form and reform the crystalline structure.This reversible change in crystralline structure is utilized to realize the shape memory property,and 5 wt%of Azo12addition is adequate for the composite to exhibit photo-responsive shape memory behavior without compromising much of the elasricity.The regualtion of external geometry by shape memory effect is effective in altering the actuating behavior.The proposed method can be extend to designing different composites with the demonstrated functionalities.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (22001071, 52373114, 52073092, 52325308)Shanghai Scientific and Technological Innovation Project(19JC1411700)。
文摘The development of artificial light-harvesting systems based on long-range ordered ultrathin organic nanomaterials(i.e., below3 nm), which were assembled from stimuli-responsive sequence-controlled biomimetic polymers, remains challenging. Herein,we report the self-assembly of azobenzene-containing amphiphilic ternary alternating peptoids to construct photo-responsive ultrathin peptoids nanoribbons(UTPNRs) with a thickness of ~2.3 nm and the length in several micrometers. The pendants hydrophobic conjugate stacking mechanism explained the formation of one-dimensional ultrathin nanostructures, whose thickness was highly dependent on the length of side groups. The photo-isomerization of azobenzene moiety endowed the aggregates with a reversible morphology transformation from UTPNRs to spherical micelles(46.5 nm), upon the alternative irradiation with ultraviolet and visible light. Donor of 4-(2-hydroxyethylamino)-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole(NBD) and acceptor of rhodamine B(RB) were introduced onto the hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, respectively, to generate photocontrollable artificial light-harvesting systems. Compared with the spheres-based systems, the obtained NBD-UTPNRs@RB composite proved a higher energy transfer efficiency(90.6%) and a lower requirement of RB acceptors in water. A proof-ofconcept use as fluorescent writable ink demonstrated the potential of UTPNRs on information encryption.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21425314, 21501184, 20141061)Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (No. Z161100000116037)+1 种基金the Top-Notch Young Talents Program of ChinaYouth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS (No. 2017036)
文摘Photo-responsive polymer materials from zero-dimensional micelles, two-dimensional surfaces to three-dimensional hydrogels have been designed, synthesized and applied for various biological fields including drug delivery and cell manipulation. Many remarkable works have been reported, revealing the advantages of photo-responsive polymers such as noninvasion and spatiotemporal control. In this review, we briefly summarized the remarkable progress of photo-responsive polymers with irreversible or reversible moieties and their further biological applications. The future opportunities and challenges of photo-responsive polymer materials are also proposed.
