Bin Zhang

Discrete π-π stacked nanocarbons, which serve as atomically precise models for layered graphitic materials, exhibit distinct optical and electronic properties. However, most reported examples are limited to planar building blocks. In this work, two negatively curved chiral nanographenes (1 and 2) containing a hexa[7]circulene core were synthesized. Both 1 and 2 form bilayer structures in the crystalline state, adopting eclipsed and displaced conformations, respectively. The bilayer stacking is driven by interlayer π-π and C-H···π interactions. NMR studies confirmed the well-defined bilayer structure of (1)₂ in solution. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated interlayer coupling in (1)₂. The inversion behavior of the chiral isomers was investigated using circular dichroism spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, revealing that the bilayer stacking stabilizes the chiral structure of (1)₂. Enhanced chiroptical dissymmetry factors were observed in (1)₂. This work not only establishes (1)₂ as a molecular model for negatively curved bilayer graphene but also highlights the modulation of chiral behavior through stacking, offering a strategy for constructing well-defined chiral assemblies based on negatively curved nanocarbons.

Correction for ‘Atomically dispersed copper( i ) on tungstosilicic acid for catalytic protection against cisplatin-induced hearing loss’ by Xiaochan Lu et al. , J. Mater. Chem. B , 2025, 13 , 3540–3552, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TB02820A.

To address the limitations of inefficient charge separation and imbalanced reaction intermediate adsorption that are inherent to the highly symmetric coordination structures of single-atom catalysts (SACs), a selective phosphorization strategy was developed for the precise construction of distorted asymmetric FeP3C1-coordinated Fe SACs on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Through careful control of the phosphorization duration to regulate the phosphorus doping levels, tailored modulation was achieved for both the local dipole moments and the charge distributions at the Fe sites. Integrated experimental characterization and density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the distorted asymmetric FeP3C1 configuration significantly enhanced interfacial dipole moments, accelerating photogenerated charge separation while broadening the visible-light absorption. More importantly, the dipole-induced asymmetric charge distribution optimized the adsorption behavior of hydrogen intermediates, thereby lowering the Gibbs free energy barrier for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and driving it toward the thermodynamic optimum. The FeP3C1/g-C3N4 exhibited an exceptional performance in the absence of noble-metal co-catalysts, achieving an HER rate of 7044.72 μmol g-1 h-1 and a peak apparent quantum efficiency of 12.87% at 380 nm. This work therefore establishes distortion-driven asymmetric coordination engineering and the associated dipole moment enhancement as a new paradigm for the design of efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion catalysts.

With aging increases the possibility of body impairment, deafness prevention remains a major unmet clinical challenge, largely due to the lack of effective therapeutics capable of targeting cochlear hair cells (HCs) across the blood-labyrinth barrier (BLB). Here, we report a precisely structured palladium-polyoxometalate coordinated antioxidant nanoagent (Pd single-atom nanozyme, Pd SAN), which demonstrates superior antioxidative enzyme-like capacity and robust biosafety. With identical Pd₁-O₄ coordinating sites and controllable size, Pd SAN effectively penetrates the BLB, accumulates within the cochlea, and protects HCs from neomycin-induced damage. Mechanistically, Pd SAN inhibits ferroptosis by preserving glutathione redox balance, reducing lipid peroxidation, stabilizing lysosomal membranes, and maintaining Fe²⁺ homeostasis. Notably, dynamic simulation demonstrates that Pd SAN shows comparable binding affinity to critical HC proteins (Prestin, Myo7a) as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and functionally suppresses neomycin-induced ferroptosis with equal or greater efficacy. In vivo experiments confirm that Pd SAN prevents auditory threshold shifts and mitigates cochlear structural injury, underscoring its translational potential. This study not only reveals that lysosomal damage-iron metabolism dysregulation-oxidative stress is a key axis driving aminoglycoside ototoxicity, but also establishes Pd SAN whose structure can be accurately deciphered with mass spectroscopy as an innovatively designed cochlea-targeting antioxidant nanomaterial with strong potential for clinical translation in deafness prevention.

Embedding hydrazine into graphenic networks, where two graphitic nitrogen atoms are directly linked by an N-N bond, endows unique redox activity and antiaromatic character, yet the construction of such fully fused architectures has remained a synthetic challenge. Here we report the first fully fused hydrazine-embedded nanographene (1) synthesized via a dehydrocyclization strategy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction revealed a hydrazine moiety embedded within a fused polycyclic carbon framework measuring 1.4 nm diagonally with a helical saddle-shape. This π-extended architecture displays near-infrared (NIR) absorption (830 nm) and emission (879 nm, Φ_F = 6.5%), as well as multistep redox processes accompanied by oxidation-induced planarization and an antiaromatic-to-aromatic transition. Chiral resolution further uncovered circularly polarized luminescence extending beyond 850 nm, which is observed for the first time from a helical nanographene. This study demonstrates that hydrazine embedment can be exploited to construct atomically precise nanocarbons with distinctive redox and NIR optical functions.

Nanodynamic therapy integrating the merits of different dynamic therapy for maximizing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation serves as a highly efficient anti‐tumor strategy. Gaining dynamic insights into how nanomaterials modulate the anti‐tumor performance guides the rational design of nano‐drugs. Herein, over biocompatible CuSe _x nanoparticles which have been applied in photothermal therapy, Fe species are doped for modulating the absorption profiles for ROS and bandgap of CuSe _x , finally regulating the chemodynamic (CDT) and photodynamic (PDT) therapeutic performance. Experimental evidence demonstrates that Fe doped materials (FCS) endow the CuSe _x with enhanced photothermal efficiency, thus thermodynamically promotes the temperature‐dependent peroxidase (POD)‐like and oxidase (OXD)‐like catalytic performance for transforming the abundant endogenous H ₂ O ₂ into more highly toxic ROS. In addition, the dopant of Fe species decreases the bandgap of CuSe _x from 1.45 to 1.30 eV, suggesting that the PDT could be realized over FCS under the irradiation of redshifted NIR light, which is more clinically favorable. In vitro and in vivo experiments manifests that that FCS overtakes CuSe _x by effectively generating ROS storms under NIR light while depleting overexpressed GSH, inducing tumor cell death through dual pathways. This work offers a novel perspective for the design of smart‐responsive nanomedicine.

Borophene nanosheets demonstrate robust protective efficacy against cisplatin-induced ototoxicity through dual regulatory mechanisms: suppression of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and inhibition of the MAPK/JNK stress-response signaling pathway.

Nanocomposites co-delivering TRAIL plasmid and salinomycin potentiate TRAIL-induced apoptosis in carcinoma through coordinated modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin, STAT3, and c-Myc signaling axes coupled with ROS upregulation.

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with enzyme-like activities and have become a research hotspot in tumor therapy due to their exceptional properties. However, biological application of nanozymes remains a methodology and safety issue. More systematic and rational design of nanozymes is needed for better tumor treatment. In this Perspective, we focus on the key questions that need to be addressed in nanozyme research, including the catalytic mechanism elucidation and the construction of structure-activity relationship, and introduce several promising rational design methods as well as prospect the future development of nanozymes. This Perspective aims to help researchers clarify the rational design of nanozymes in tumor therapy, offering a comprehensive guide in this emerging field.