Xiaotong Fan

Covalently assembled polymer nanocapsules: a novel scaffold for light-harvesting

A nanocapsule with an ultrathin shell designed for mimicking natural light-harvesting systems was successfully constructed based on the covalent assembly of donor molecules called 4,4′,4′′-(1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl)trianiline (Tta). When tetra(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (Tapp), another building block, which acted as the acceptor was covalently coassembled into the nanocapsule, a novel artificial light-harvesting system was successfully constructed.

Reductive-Responsive Single Molecular Layer Polymer Nanocapsules Prepared by Lateral Functionalized Pillar[5]arenes for Targeting Anticancer Drug Delivery

Herein, a new reductive-responsive pillar[5]arene-based, single-molecule-layer polymer nanocapsule is constructed for drug delivery. The functionalized system shows good biocompatibility, efficient internalization into targeted cells and obvious triggered release of entrapped drugs in a reducing environment such as cytoplasm. Besides, this smart vehicle loaded with anticancer drug shows excellent inhibition for tumor cell proliferation and exhibits low side effect on normal cells. This work not only demonstrates the development of a new reductive-responsive single molecular layer polymer nanocapsule for anticancer drug targeting delivery but also extends the design of smart materials for biomedical applications.