Jianyu Liu

One-pot synthesis and enhanced catalytic performance of Pd and Pt nanocages via galvanic replacement reactions

A one-pot approach for the synthesis of Pd and Pt nanocages has been demonstrated via galvanic replacement reactions, in which the nanocage sizes and shapes can be effectively controlled through modifying the sizes of Ag nanocubes and reaction temperatures. Moreover, the Pd and Pt nanocages have excellently monodispersed feature in aqueous solution, and show outstanding electrocatalytic activities without introducing any loading materials.

Coordinatively Self-Assembled Luminescent Gold Nanoparticles: Fluorescence Turn-On System for High-Efficiency Passive Tumor Imaging

A fluorescence turn-on system for highly efficient and prolonged tumor imaging has been established by a Co2+-induced coordination self-assembly strategy, in which luminescent glutathione (GSH)-modified gold nanoparticles (LGAuNPs) are assembled into LGAuNPs assemblies (LGAuNPs-Co) through a coordination bond between an unoccupied orbit of Co2+ and lone pair electrons of GSH on the surface of LGAuNPs. The LGAuNPs-Co is sensitive to microenvironment pH, and its quenched luminescence will be turned on in tumor tissues (acidic microenvironment), which behaves as a fluorescence turn-on system for passive tumor imaging. The fluorescence turn-on system combines advantages of the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect of NPs and pH-induced fluorescence turn-on property at the tumor site, which results in a larger fluorescence intensity (FI) difference between normal and tumor tissues as compared with that of luminescent Au NPs (LAuNPs, only with the EPR effect) (∼12-fold). Such a large FI difference results in that LGAuNPs-Co has rapid (∼1.6 h), persistent (∼24 h p.i.), and highly efficient tumor targeting capability in comparison with LGAuNPs. Moreover, the LGAuNPs-Co also has much longer tumor retention, faster renal clearance, and lower reticuloendothelial system (RES) uptake than LGAuNPs. Therefore, the fluorescence turn-on system is very promising for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Internal-Modified Dithiol DNA-Directed Au Nanoassemblies: Geometrically Controlled Self-Assembly and Quantitative Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Properties.

In this work, a hierarchical DNA–directed self–assembly strategy to construct structure–controlled Au nanoassemblies (NAs) has been demonstrated by conjugating Au nanoparticles (NPs) with internal–modified dithiol single-strand DNA (ssDNA) (Au–B–A or A–B–Au–B–A). It is found that the dithiol–ssDNA–modified Au NPs and molecule quantity of thiol–modified ssDNA grafted to Au NPs play critical roles in the assembly of geometrically controlled Au NAs. Through matching Au–DNA self–assembly units, geometrical structures of the Au NAs can be tailored from one–dimensional (1D) to quasi–2D and 2D. Au–B–A conjugates readily give 1D and quasi–2D Au NAs while 2D Au NAs can be formed by A–B–Au–B–A building blocks. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements and 3D finite–difference time domain (3D-FDTD) calculation results indicate that the geometrically controllable Au NAs have regular and linearly “hot spots”–number–depended SERS properties. For a certain number of NPs, the number of “hot spots” and accordingly enhancement factor of Au NAs can be quantitatively evaluated, which open a new avenue for quantitative analysis based on SERS technique.

Al3+-directed electrostatic self-assembly and their surface plasmon resonance properties of Au nanocrystals

A straightforward and effective Al3+-directed electrostatic self-assembly strategy for linking Au nanoparticles (NPs) into one-dimensional (1D) or 2D nanoarrays has been demonstrated. In the self-assembly, Al3+ concentration played an important role in the Au NPs self-assembly, varying which size, shape, and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) properties of the Au nanoassemblies (NAs) could be well tuned.

A simple and effective strategy for the directed and high-yield assembly of large-sized gold nanoparticles driven by bithiol-modified complementary dsDNA architectures

A simple and effective strategy for the directed and high-yield assembly of large-sized Au NPs has been demonstrated by bithiol-modified complementary dsDNA architectures. The dsDNA architectures were formed by mixing two complementary thiol-modified ssDNA (only 36 bases) and played an important role in the high-yield self-assembly of the large-sized Au NPs. Compared with traditional methods, this strategy was simple, effective, low-cost and enabled excellent self-assembly of large-sized Au NPs, while obviating the need for the conjugate of Au NPs to ssDNA and the use of long chain DNA. Therefore, this straightforward and high efficiency methodology opens a new avenue of DNA-induced self-assembly of large-sized metal NPs.

Highly Stabilized Core-Satellite Gold Nanoassemblies in Vivo: DNA-Directed Self-Assembly, PEG Modification and Cell Imaging

Au nanoparticles (NPs) have important applications in bioimaging, clinical diagnosis and even therapy due to its water-solubility, easy modification and drug-loaded capability, however, easy aggregation of Au NPs in normal saline and serum greatly limits its applications. In this work, highly stabilized core-satellite Au nanoassemblies (CSAuNAs) were constructed by a hierarchical DNA-directed self-assembly strategy, in which satellite Au NPs number could be effectively tuned through varying the ratios of core-AuNPs-ssDNA and satellite-AuNPs-ssDNAc. It was especially interesting that PEG-functionalized CSAuNAs (PEG-CSAuNAs) could not only bear saline solution but also resist the enzymatic degradation in fetal calf serum. Moreover, cell targeting and imaging indicated that the PEG-CSAuNAs had promising biotargeting and bioimaging capability. Finally, fluorescence imaging in vivo revealed that PEG-CSAuNAs modified with N-acetylation chitosan (CSNA) could be selectively accumulate in the kidneys with satisfactory renal retention capability. Therefore, the highly stabilized PEG-CSAuNAs open a new avenue for its applications in vivo.

A straightforward and effective strategy for controllable synthesis of Ag/Ag2S and Ag/CdS heterojunction nanowires

Ag/Ag2S heterojunction nanowires (HJNWs) have been successfully fabricated through one-pot solution-phase method, which were transferred into Ag/CdS HJNWs by cation exchange. The synthesis involved a template-less, non-seed, and one-pot solution-phase process to high-quality Ag/Ag2S HJNWs. The sizes, positions, and spacing distances between the Ag2S or CdS NPs of the growing Ag2S and CdS NPs in the Ag/Ag2S and Ag/CdS HJNWs could be finely tailored by reaction temperatures and PVP concentrations. By varying reaction temperature, the sizes and positions (tip or surface) of the growing Ag2S and CdS NPs in the Ag/Ag2S and Ag/CdS HJNWs could be effectively controlled while PVP concentration could tailor the sizes and spacing distances between the Ag2S or CdS NPs of the growing Ag2S and CdS NPs in the Ag/Ag2S and Ag/CdS HJNWs. We also proposed a primary experimental model to illustrate the growth mechanism of the Ag/Ag2S and Ag/CdS HJNWs.Graphical Abstract

Controlling Shape and Plasmon Resonance of Pt-Etched Au@Ag Nanorods

Pt-based catalysts with novel structure have attracted great attention due to their outstanding performance. In this work, H2PtCl6 was used as both precursor and etching agent to realize the shape-controlled synthesis of Pt-modified Au@Ag nanorods (NRs). During the synthesis, the as-prepared Ag shell played a crucial role in both protecting the Au NRs from being etched away by PtCl62- and leading to an unusual growth mode of Pt component. The site-specified etching and/or growth depended on the concentration of H2PtCl6, where high-yield core-shell structure or dumbbell-like structure could be obtained. The shape-controlled synthesis also led to a tunable longitudinal surface plasmon resonance from ca. 649 to 900 nm. Meanwhile, the core-shell Pt-modified Au@Ag NRs showed approximately 4-fold enhancement in catalytic reduction reaction of p-nitrophenol than that of the Au NRs, suggesting the great potential for photocatalytic reaction.

Small-Sized Cationic miRi-PCNPs Selectively Target the Kidneys for High-Efficiency Antifibrosis Treatment

Small-sized cationic miRi (microRNA-21 inhibitor)-PCNPs (low molecular weight chitosan (LMWC)-modified polylactide-co-glycoside (PLGA) nanoparticles (PLNPs)) with special kidney-targeting and high-efficiency antifibrosis treatment are fabricated through coupling miRi, PLGA, and LMWC. In the miRi-PCNPs, easily degraded miRi is encapsulated in PCNPs and thus prevented from degradation by nuclease. Cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and systemic toxicity assays and in vitro and ex vivo fluorescence imaging suggest that PCNPs possess excellent biocompatibility, higher cellular uptake efficiency, and selective kidney-targeting capacity. Western blotting, pathological staining, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses show that the therapeutic effect of miRi-PCNPs on kidney fibrosis is much higher than that of miRi, which is mainly through suppressing transforming growth factor beta-1/drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 3 (TGF-β1/Smad3) and extracellular signal-regulated kinases/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway by inhibiting the expression of microRNA-21. For example, the tubule damage index and tubulointerstitial fibrosis area in the miRi-PCNPs group are ≈2.5-fold lower than those in the saline and bare miRi groups. The miRi-PCNPs with special kidney-targeting and high-efficiency antifibrosis treatment may represent a promising strategy for designing and developing a therapeutic treatment for kidney fibrosis.