Xiaoqiang Chen

Herein, a “photonic bodyguard” strategy was explored to recycle MB in a reductive biological environment via the strategic introduction of electron acceptors, achieving the protection of MB's photon utilization and ROS generation efficiency.

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains a formidable challenge in oncology due to its infiltrative nature and the blood‐brain barrier that impedes drug delivery. Herein, we report three novel oxajulolidinyl ( OJLD )‐functionalized aza‐BODIPY photosensitizers ( Ph‐OJLD , OMe‐OJLD , and CF ₃ ‐OJLD ) designed for NIR‐triggered synergistic photodynamic and photothermal therapy. The OJLD moiety induces significant molecular distortion, as confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which promotes reactive oxygen species generation and photothermal conversion. Ph‐OJLD self‐assembles into uniformly dispersed nanoplatforms (233 nm, polydispersity index = 0.11) with a negative surface charge (−46.1 mV). In vitro, laser‐activated Ph‐OJLD nanoparticles (NPs) suppress U251 cell proliferation and migration, induce mitochondrial damage, and trigger apoptosis. In an orthotopic GL261 glioma model, stereotactic injection of Ph‐OJLD NPs followed by NIR laser irradiation significantly reduces tumor size and enhances apoptosis without observable toxicity. This work establishes oxajulolidinyl modification as a promising strategy for designing multifunctional photosensitizers for GBM.

Stimuli‐responsive prodrug system has emerged as an attractive approach to address the issues encountered by conventional chemotherapeutics. Among the growing arsenal of stimuli‐responsive prodrug strategies, the photocaging approach occupies a privileged position because it replaces poorly controlled biological triggers with an external light stimulation, thereby offering a promising solution to the therapeutic limitations in cancer treatment. In this work, we have developed a Sanger’s reagent based prodrug, Sanger‐Naph‐CPT , which enables light‐controlled camptothecin (CPT) release in cancer cells via 400 nm light. Integrating a naphthalimide fluorescent reporter, the system allows real‐time monitoring of drug release kinetics. The photocaged prodrug was characterized by HPLC/HRMS, confirming photodegradation under light. Confocal microscopy showed minimal baseline fluorescence in HeLa cells without irradiation, with robust fluorescence emerging postirradiation (intensity increasing with exposure time). MTT assays showed that, after light irradiation, Sanger‐Naph‐CPT exhibited dose‐dependent cytotoxicity comparable to free CPT, demonstrating restored activity of released CPT. This dual‐function platform combines light‐triggered therapeutic activity and fluorescence reporting, offering a modular design for photocontrolled prodrugs.

Microneedles (MNs), fabricated from diverse materials and assembled into arrays, have emerged as promising platforms for transdermal drug delivery and health monitoring. However, conventional MN‐based theranostic systems mainly rely on passive diffusion and often involve complicated operational procedures, limiting delivery efficiency and real‐time responsiveness. To overcome these limitations, MNs have been integrated with enhancement strategies such as magnetic fields, acoustics, and electronics to achieve active and programmable biomedical functions. Among these approaches, bioelectronics offer unique advantages in flexibility, conductivity, signal processing, and closed‐loop control, thereby expanding the capabilities of MN systems in drug delivery and biosensing. Despite rapid progress, current studies mainly focus on material development and device fabrication, while the underlying design logic of bioelectronic MN systems remains insufficiently discussed. Herein, this review summarizes the recent advances in MN‐assisted bioelectronic systems and proposes a bioelectronic design framework based on “front‐end,” “mid‐end,” and “back‐end” functionalities. This framework provides a systematic understanding of how biointerfaces, signal transduction, and electronic modules cooperatively govern system performance. By highlighting the integration mechanisms and architectural strategies of bioelectronic MNs, this review offers insights into the rational design of next‐generation wearable and closed‐loop biomedical platforms.

Understanding and controlling interfacial dynamics during coating evaporation is crucial for suppressing surface defects, yet direct visualization of these nonuniform processes remains challenging. Here we introduce spiropyran derivative, NSA‐SP , as a probe that enables real‐time optical mapping of thermal field distribution, capillary‐driven flows, and interfacial adsorption during film drying. Owing to its high solubility in ester‐based formulations and ultrafast photoisomerization, NSA‐SP converts local physicochemical variations into a spatiotemporally resolved optical response, allowing direct visualization of fluid‐dynamic instabilities associated with orange‐peel defects. The concentration‐dependent optical response exhibits biexponential behavior, reflecting sequential saturation of Gibbs surface excess at interfaces of distinct thermodynamic character. Preferential adsorption at the solid–liquid interface dominates at low concentrations, followed by redistribution to the gas–liquid interface at higher loadings. By quantitatively linking optical observables to interfacial thermodynamics, this approach enables calculation of the optimal leveling‐agent dosage and provides a predictive framework for formulation design.

Developing high photochromic contrast photoswitches in the solid state remains a significant challenge in organic smart materials. We here provide an oxygen‐acceptor strategy for constructing an excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐inspired organic photoswitch, namely tpm SA . By introducing a bulky triphenylmethane into the salicylaldehyde skeleton, tpm SA can achieve photochromic behavior in the solid state. Upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, tpm SA displays distinct color variation from white to yellow, yielding a high photochromic contrast ( ΔE* _Lab >74). Kinetic studies suggest that tpm SA can undergo rapid photoisomerization and is capable of reversible switching for over 20 cycles, demonstrating superior fatigue resistance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the weakly alkaline oxygen‐acceptor in tpm SA significantly enhances photochromic contrast by suppressing the ground‐state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) pathway. The photopatterning and high‐level information encryption were successfully developed by tpm SA . This study proposes an oxygen−acceptor strategy for developing solid‐state photoswitches with high photochromic contrast, demonstrating great potential for advanced information encryption materials.

Developing high photochromic contrast photoswitches in the solid state remains a significant challenge in organic smart materials. We here provide an oxygen‐acceptor strategy for constructing an excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐inspired organic photoswitch, namely tpm SA . By introducing a bulky triphenylmethane into the salicylaldehyde skeleton, tpm SA can achieve photochromic behavior in the solid state. Upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, tpm SA displays distinct color variation from white to yellow, yielding a high photochromic contrast ( ΔE* _Lab >74). Kinetic studies suggest that tpm SA can undergo rapid photoisomerization and is capable of reversible switching for over 20 cycles, demonstrating superior fatigue resistance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the weakly alkaline oxygen‐acceptor in tpm SA significantly enhances photochromic contrast by suppressing the ground‐state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) pathway. The photopatterning and high‐level information encryption were successfully developed by tpm SA . This study proposes an oxygen−acceptor strategy for developing solid‐state photoswitches with high photochromic contrast, demonstrating great potential for advanced information encryption materials.

In cancer diagnosis and treatment, 'accurate diagnosis' and 'targeted therapy' are the primary focus and key goals of many research groups. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted considerable attention in cancer diagnosis and treatment owing to their structural diversity and multifunctionality. Starting in 2010, MOFs with targeting capabilities have been gradually developed and applied in the field of biomedicine. This Review provides readers with a simple guide to help design bioenabled MOFs for specific bioapplications. First, construction strategies of MOFs with targeting functions are classified, including non-covalent interaction, covalent interaction and coordinative interaction strategies. Then, the applications of MOFs modified by antibodies, peptides, aptamers, carbohydrates, cell membranes and other targeting strategies are discussed. Finally, the future challenges and prospects for constructing MOFs with targeting functionalities are outlined to provide guidelines for the next generation of MOFs capable of achieving accurate cancer diagnosis and treatment and to accelerate the development of MOFs in clinical applications.

Supramolecular J-aggregation of π-conjugated photosensitizers provides a powerful strategy to optimize phototheranostic performance.