Jing-Wen Wang

Near-Infrared Light and pH Dual-Responsive Targeted Drug Carrier Based on Core-Crosslinked Polyaniline Nanoparticles for Intracellular Delivery of Cisplatin

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles have received growing interest as one of the most promising agents for drug delivery. In the present work, functional and core-crosslinked poly(ethylene glycol) with poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PEG5k -PCL10k ) block copolymer and lecithin as biodegradable polymer doped with polyaniline was used to assemble nanoparticles which were prepared for targeted delivery and controlled release of cisplatin. The morphology of the polyaniline nanoparticles was determined by dynamic light scattering and the prepared nanoparticles showed a size of 83(±1) nm and a uniform spherical shape. For targeting to HER2 receptors, Herceptin was applied to guide the nanoparticles to breast cancer cells. Studies on cellular uptake and drug release of the nanocarriers showed that the prepared nanoparticles were efficiently taken up by breast cancer cells and the drug was released efficiently under acidic conditions when exposed to a near-infrared laser (808 nm, 1.54 W) for 5 min. Our research highlights the great potential of near-infrared light and pH dual-responsive release by core-crosslinked nanoparticles in nanobiomedicine.

Selective separation of aqueous sulphate anions via crystallization of sulphate–water clusters

In this study, the potential of oxoanion separation with the ligands N-4-methylbenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L1), N-4-fluorobenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L2), N-4-hydroxy benzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L3), and N-3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole (L4) was explored. The salts of sulphate, nitrate, and perchlorate were crystallized in the form of [HL1]+[HSO4]−·H2O, [HL2]+[HSO4]−·H2O, 2[HL3]+[SO4]2−·2(H2O), and 2[HL4]+[SO4]2−·H2O, [HL3]+[NO3]−·H2O and [HL4]+[NO3]−, and [HL3]+[ClO4]− and [HL4]+[ClO4]−, respectively. Competitive crystallization and competitive sulphate-binding experiments demonstrated special recognition of the sulphate–water clusters (in the forms of [HSO4−·H2O]n or [SO42−·H2O]n) via the parallel packed 3-D architectures of HL1+, HL2+, and HL4+ cations, which were far more effective and selective than the non-3-D structure of HL3+ cation. The observed selectivity for sulphate, nitrate, and perchlorate was found to be anti-Hofmeister. In addition, the selective separation of sulphate anions in seawater was investigated, which demonstrated the real-world application of the present strategy.

Thermal-Induced Dielectric Switching with 40K Wide Hysteresis Loop Near Room Temperature

A thermal-induced dielectric switching has been realized in two ion-pair crystal [C2H6N5]+·[H2PO4]- (1, C2H6N5 = 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazolinium) through single-crystal-to-single-crystal phase transition (SCSC-PT). Upon cooling from room temperature, the 1D cation stripes that are composed of [C2H5N5]+ cations have undergone a 90° sharp rotation around the c axis, accompanied by the transition of crystal stacking from loose unparallel (dynamic state) to compression parallel (static state) and reorientation of dipoles on the [C2H5N5]+ cation, which thus resulted in high dielectric state to low dielectric state transformation. While on the warming run, the reverse process was rather sluggish, resulting in a reversible dielectric switching with ultralarge (about 40K wide) hysteresis loop near room temperature. It is thought that the large-sized polar cation stripes have a predominant influence on the switching properties of 1.

Tuning the crystal structures of metal-tetraphenylporphines via a magnetic field

In this work, two new single crystals of copper-tetraphenylporphine (Cu-TPP) (crystals 2 and 3), which were induced by external magnetic fields with strengths of 0.5 and 0.8 T, respectively, have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis. Compared with the original Cu-TPP (crystal 1), crystals 2 and 3 exhibit significant differences in their unit cell parameters, crystalline stacking styles and intermolecular interactions, resulting in a “compressed” crystal packing. Here, the number of closer interactions (H⋯H, C⋯H/H⋯C) increased with the magnetic field strength, accompanied by a decrease in the number of π⋯π (C⋯C) interactions as a sacrifice. On considering the results of our previous work, the results here suggest that a magnetic field has a different influence on the crystallization process of mono-component and multi-component materials, which will certainly provide some suggestions for the design of crystallization strategies for other materials with the presence of an external magnetic field.

Halogen-bonding contacts determining the crystal structure and fluorescence properties of organic salts

By using the ligands 4-(4-bromobenzylideneamino)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (L1) and 4-(4-iodobenzylideneamino)-4H-1,2,4-triazole (L2), four different organic salts HL1+·Cl− (1), L1·HL1+·ClO4− (2), HL2+·Cl− (3), and L2·HL2+·ClO4− (4) have been synthesized and structurally characterized through single-crystal X-ray diffraction (L1, L2, 2 and 3) and PXRD (1 and 4) measurements. The results revealed that ligands L1 and L2 themselves exhibit a polymeric 1-D chain in a zigzag structure connected by C–Br⋯N and C–I⋯N halogen-bonding contacts, respectively. L1 in salt 2 was connected into a 3-D structure through N–H⋯O hydrogen-bonding contacts, while the interleaved 3-D network of L2 in salt 3 was mainly connected by C–I⋯Cl halogen-bonding contacts. As a result, the fluorescence properties of ligands L1 and L2 were reserved in halogen-bonding connected salts 1 and 3, while there was a reduction in hydrogen-bonding connected salts 2 and 4. Thus, the relationship between emission properties and halogen-bonding contacts can be proposed.

Substituent swap affects the crystal structure and properties of N-benzyl-4-amino-1,2,4-triazole related organic salts

An investigation into the effect of switching methoxy and hydroxyl groups on molecular salts is presented in this study. The salts HL1+·NO3− (1), L1·HL1+·ClO4− (2), L1·HL1+·H2PO4−·H2O (3), HL2+·NO3− (4), HL2+·ClO4− (5) and HL2+·H2PO4− (6) were synthesized and structurally characterized. The study was carried out by analyzing the crystal structure, properties and intermolecular interactions within each of the salts using IR and fluorescence spectra, TGA, Hirshfeld surface analyses and π⋯π stacking motifs. Salt 1 has a layered structure, while 4 has a distorted 3-D structure. Salt 2 possesses an edge-to-face type plane interaction, while 5 is formed with a twisted structure. It is important to note that water molecules play a key role in the 1-D chain structure of salt 3. The π⋯π stacking motif of salts 1–3 have a herringbone structure, while salts 3–6 exhibit a γ-structure. In addition, the competitive crystallization of the synthetic salts was investigated and found to be consistent with the measured solubility.