Near infrared light-induced dynamic modulation of enzymatic activity through polyphenol-functionalized liquid metal nanodroplets

Dynamic manipulation of enzymatic activity is a challenging task for applications in chemical and pharmaceutical industries due to the difficult modification and variable conformation of various enzymes.Here, we report a new strategy for reversible dynamic modulation of enzymatic activity by near-infrared light-induced photothermal conversion based on polyphenol-functionalized liquid metal nanodroplets(LM). The metal-phenolic nanocoating not only provides colloidal stability of LM nanodroplets but also generates nanointerfaces for the assembly of various enzymes on the LM nanodroplets. Upon near infrared(NIR) irradiation, the localized microenvironmental heating through photothermal effect of the LM nanodroplets allows tailoring the enzymatic activity without affecting the bulk temperature. A library of functional enzymes, including proteinase K, glucoamylase, glucose oxidase, and Bst DNA polymerase, is integrated to perform a reversible control and enhanced activities even after five times of cycles, demonstrating great potential in bacterial fermentation, bacteriostasis, and target gene amplification.

Nanophotonic catalytic combustion enlightens mid-infrared light source

The tunable mid-infrared source in a broad-spectrum heralds great scientific implications and remains a challenge.Nanolocalized catalytic combustion facilitates access to customizable infrared light sources.Here,we report on fabricating platinumalumina bilayer nano-cylinder arrays for methanol catalytic combustion,which enables them to act as an array of infrared point light sources,with wavelength tunable by controlling the flow rate of methanol/air mixture.We then propose a technique of integrating nanophotonic structures with catalytic combustion to engineer infrared light emission.We demonstrate a prototype of a topological photonic crystal catalyst array in which infrared emission can be enhanced significantly with highly vertical emission.This work establishes a framework of nanophotonic catalytic combustion for infrared light sources.

Detection of near infrared light illumination with the aid of none-metal plasmonic nanocrystals

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team led by Prof.Luo LinBao(罗林保)at the College of Electronic Sciences and Applied Physics,Hefei University of Technology,developed a simple and highly efficient near infrared light photodetector,which was published in Laser&Photonics Reviews(2016,10:595—602).

The Application of the Edge Sharpening Operator to the Breast Near-Infrared Imaging

The principles of Gradient operator, Laplacian operator, LOG operator and Sobel operator are discussed. Certain features of breast can be extracted in different degrees and aspects from original images by applying four edge sharpening operators to the breast near-infrared imaging. A great number of cases prove that compared with the other three operators, the improved Sobel operator can effectively extract the structural features of the breast from an original image. It can be concluded that the improved Sobel operator can assist in diagnosing breast diseases.

Solvent-Free Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids and Amide Analogs of CAPE(Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester)under Infrared Irradiation Conditions

A convenient and easy method is described for the formation of carboxamides from carboxylic acids and primary amines in solventless conditions using infrared (IR) light. Thus, under IR light, cinnamic acid derivatives and amines can produce yields ranging from 50% to 85% of the resulting amide.

Fluorescence guided intraluminal endoscopy in the gastrointestinal tract: A systematic review

BACKGROUND Conventional endoscopy is based on full spectrum white light.However,different studies have investigated the use of fluorescence based endoscopy systems where the white light has been supplemented by infrared light and the use of relevant fluorophores.Fluorescence endoscopy utilizes the fluorescence emitted from a fluorophore,visualizing what is not visible to the naked eye.AIM To explore the feasibility of fluorescence endoscopy and evaluate its use in diagnosing and evaluating gastrointestinal disease.METHODS We followed the PRISMA guidelines for this systematic review.The research covered five databases;PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,Embase,and the Cochrane Collection,including only studies in English and Scandinavian languages.Authors screened title and abstract for inclusion,subsequently full-text for inclusion according to eligibility criteria listed in the protocol.The risk of bias was assessed for all studies according to the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.The authors extracted the data and reported the results in both text and tables.RESULTS We included seven studies in the systematic review after screening a total of 2769 papers.The most prominent fluorophore was indocyanine green(n=6),and whereas one study(n=1)used Bevacizumab 800-CW.Three studies investigated fluorescence endoscopy in detecting varices,adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and neoplasms in the gastrointestinal tract.Four studies evaluated the usefulness of fluorescence endoscopy in assessing tumor invasion.Three of the four studies reported an exceptional diagnostic accuracy(93%,89%and 88%)in assessing tumor invasion,thus representing better visualization and more correct diagnosis by fluorescence endoscopy compared with the conventional endoscopy.The relationship between the endoscopic findings,tumor invasion,and tumor vascularity was evaluated in two studies showing a significant correlation(dP<0.05 and bP<0.01).CONCLUSION The use of fluorescence endoscopy is a promising method adding diagnostic value in the detection of neoplasia,adenomas,and assessment of tumor invasion within the gastrointestinal tract.More studies are needed to utilize the feasibility of fluorescence endoscopy compared with other endoscopic methods.

Infrared-harvesting colloidal quantum dot inks for efficient photovoltaics: Impact of surface chemistry and device engineering

Colloidal quantum dots(CQDs)are promising semiconducting materials,which can be used as a photoactive layer in various optoelectronic applications,because of their size-tunable bandgap energy,solution processability,and excellent optical and optoelectronic properties.In particular,these features have generated great interest in the development of CQD solar cells and led to a rapid increase in their power conversion efficiency.These improvements were enabled by many innovative approaches in terms of CQD’s surface chemistry and device architecture optimizations.In this review,a critical overview of the research progress in CQD solar cells is presented with a focus on the strategies adopted for achieving record efficiency in CQD solar cells.These strategies include the use of organic/inorganic surface ligands,pre-and post-treatment of CQDs,and solid-state/solution-phase ligand exchange.Additionally,we provide an understanding of the research history to inspire the rational design of next-generation CQD optoelectronic devices,such as solar cells,light-emitting diodes,and photodetectors.Recent research on the development of infrared CQD solar cells as complementary platforms to other solar cell technologies is also critically discussed to provide another perspective on CQD technologies.

Light-triggered NO-releasing nanoparticles for treating mice with liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis, resulting from chronic liver damage and characterized by the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, is a characteristic of most types of chronic liver diseases. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) is considered an essential pathological hallmark in liver fibrosis. Although nitric oxide (NO) can effectively induce HSC apoptosis, the systemic administration of NO is ineffective and may cause severe complications such as hypotension. To overcome this limitation, nanoparticles were designed to target HSCs and release NO locally under the exposure of near infrared light (NIR). To achieve this, upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP) cores were enveloped in mesoporous silica shells (UCNP@mSiO2), which were modified with hyaluronic acid (HA-UCNP@mSiO2) and Roussin’s black salt (RBS). HA molecules recognize and bind to CD44 proteins, which are overexpressed on activated HSCs. Under exposure to a 980-nm NIR laser, the UCNP cores convert the 980-nm wavelength into ultraviolet (UV) light, which then energizes the RBS (NO donors), resulting in an efficient release of NO inside of the HSCs. Once released, NO triggers HSC apoptosis and reverses the liver fibrosis. This targeted and controlled release method provides the theoretical and experimental basis for novel therapeutic approaches to treat hepatic fibrosis.

Capuli cherry-mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles under white solar and blue LED light

In this article, the Capuli （Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. Capuli） cherry extract was used for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles （AgNPs） in the presence of white/visible solar and blue light-emitting diode （LED） light. For the characterization of the extract and the AgNPs, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were employed, along with hydrodynamic particle size analysis, trans- mission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The Ag nanospheres obtained using white light were 40-100 nm in diameter and exhibited an absorption peak at λmax= 445 nm, whereas those obtained using blue LED light were 20-80 nm in diameter with an absorption peak at λmax= 425 nm. Thermal analysis revealed that the content of biomolecules surrounding the AgNPs was about 55-65%, and it was also found that blue LED light AgNPs （56.28%, 0.05 mM） had a higher antioxidant efficacy than the white solar light AgNPs （33.42%, 0.05 mM） against l,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. The results indicate that obtaining AgNPs using a blue LED light may prove to be a simple, cost-effective and easily reproducible method for creating future nanopharmaceuticals.

Design of 4D printed shape-changing tracheal stent and remote controlling actuation

has a good application prospect.The biodegradable stent can effectively reduce the damage to patients and improve the therapeutic performance of stents.In this work,a series of shape memory polylactic acid(Fe_(3)O_(4))composite tracheal stents were manufactured by 4D printing.The composite tracheal stents with different structures were designed.Moreover,with the addition of magnetic particles Fe3 O4,the shape memory PLA/Fe_(3)O_(4)composite tracheal stent has a magnetic driving effect.Under the magnetic field,the shape recovery process is completed within 40 s,and the shape recovery rate is more than 99%.Moreover,the 4D printed tracheal stent was also triggered by the irradiation of infrared lamp to realize the remote controlling recovery.The research on the structure design and driving method of 4D printing tracheal stent expands the application scope of shape memory polymer composites in biomedical field,provides a new way for personalized implantable medical devices and minimally invasive surgery.It is of great significance for better precision medical treatment.

Recent research progress for upconversion assisted dye-sensitized solar cells

Upconversion(UC)technology makes it possible to harvest infrared(IR)light from the sun and has increasingly been employed in recent years to improve the efficiency of solar cells.The progress in the area concerns both research on fundamental principles and processes of UC and technologies of device fabrication.Significant increase of important solar cell parameters,like short-circuit photocurrent density and open-circuit photovoltage as well as the total photon-to-current efficiency,has been accomplished.We here review the research published during the last few years in the area,in particular we consider the two most cherished techniques,namely the incorporation of upconverting nanophosphors directly into the photoanodes of the solar cells and the introduction of plasmonic metal nanoparticles co-existing with the UC particles.Other ways to achieve strong field enhancement,and the use of the non-linear nature of UC,is to apply microlenses,with or without assisting plasmonic excitation.Further enhanced UC action has been demonstrated by broad band and effective harvesting by organic IR antennas,with subsequent mediation by an intermediate nanoshell of the energy into the upconverting core.Codoping,nanohybrid and layer-by-layer technologies involving upconverting particles as well as the use of upconverting nanoparticles in hole-transport and electrolyte layers,tested in recent works,are also reviewed.While most of these technologies employ upconverting rare earth metals for sequential photon absorption,the main alternative technique,namely triplet-triplet annihilation UC using organic materials,is also reviewed.It is our belief that all these approaches will be further much researched in the near future,with potentially great impact on solar cell technology.

High temperature thermo-photocatalysis driven carbon removal in direct biogas fueled solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells(SOFCs)can directly convert renewable biogas into electricity with high efficiency at high temperature,however the long-term stability of SOFCs is significantly affected by the carbon deposition on the anode during cell operation.Herein,we report a novel carbon removal approach by high temperature infrared light driven photocatalytic oxidation.Upon the comparison of electrochemical performance of Ni-YSZ anode and TiO_(2)modified Ni-YSZ anode in the state-of-the-art single cell(Ni-YSZ/YSZ/LSCM),the modified anodes exhibit markedly improved peak powder density with simulated biogas fuel(70%CH_(4)+30%CO_(2))at 850℃with less coking after 40 h operation.The high activity and carbon deposition resistance of the modified anode is possibly attributed to the in situ generated hydroxyl radical from the reduced TiO_(x)powder under high temperature infrared light excitation,which is supported by detailed analysis of microstructural information of anodes and the powder-based thermo-photocatalytic experiments.

Silver nanowires for anti-counterfeiting

Silver nanowire(AgNW)films have been widely used as flexible transparent electrodes due to the high electrical conductance and high transmittance in the visible range.The infrared(IR)properties of AgNW films,however,are seldom discussed.Here,we show that ultrathin AgNWs present high transmittance in the visible range(~95%)and high reflectance(60-70%)in the IR range of 8e14 mm.Such a significant difference makes AgNW films invisible to naked eyes but visible under an IR camera,being an ideal selection for anti-counterfeit technologies,while no excitation is required.We have demonstrated that AgNW films can be spray-coated on either flat or microstructured surfaces with high conformability and high scratch-resistance,and thus these anti-counterfeiting materials can be applied to a variety of applications.The AgNW-based anti-counterfeiting may be helpful for combating counterfeiting crimes in the fields of medicines,artwork,banknotes,brand luxuries,industrial parts,and so on.

Recent research progress on mixed valence state tungsten based materials

Synthesis and characterization of tungsten based mixed valence state nanoparticles and their novel applications are reviewed.The mixed valence state tungsten based homogeneous nanomaterials such as bronze structure M_(x)WO_(3)(M=Na^(+),K^(+),Rb^(+),Cs^(+),NH_(4)^(+),etc.)and tungsten sub-oxide W_(18)O_(49) possess excellent infrared(IR)light shielding property,implying their great potential applications on heat ray shielding and indoor energy saving effect in summer season.Also,some novel properties such as electric conductivity,bio thermal therapy function and electrochromic properties of mixed valence state tungsten based materials are introduced.The design of components,formation of composites and structure control of thin films are expected to realize the property enhancement and candidates for practice application as window materials.The multifunc-tionality of the mixed valence state based composites also implies great potential on novel applications of various building materials.