Dopamine hydrochloride (DPH) is a key neurotransmitter, and its dysregulated concentration has been linked to various neurological disorders. Meanwhile, potassium permanganate (MnO4 -), a potent oxidant, poses significant environmental risks when discharged in excess. Therefore, sensitive detection of MnO4 - and DPH is essential. In this work, nitrogen, sulfur, and fluorine tridoped carbon dots (N,S,F-CDs) were prepared through a hydrothermal route using Aconitum pendulum Busch extract as a biomass-derived carbon source, with thiourea and sodium fluoride serving as heteroatom dopants. The obtained N,S,F-CDs exhibited bright blue emission, good aqueous dispersibility, and a fluorescence quantum yield of 43.16%, with strong emission at 408 nm under 345-nm excitation. Upon addition of MnO4 -, the fluorescence was efficiently suppressed owing to the combined contribution of inner-filter effect and dynamic quenching. Subsequent introduction of DPH reduced MnO4 - and recovered the fluorescence signal, enabling the construction of an "ON-OFF-ON" sensing platform. Under optimized conditions, the sensor displayed linear responses of 5.03-275.23 μM for MnO4 - and 6.11-371.02 μM for DPH, with detection limits of 0.25 and 0.68 μM, respectively. The method was further applied to tap water, serum, and orange juice samples with satisfactory recoveries, indicating its potential for environmental and bioanalytical detection.
A rapid, sensitive, and sustainable fluorimetric method based on fluorescence quenching of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) is introduced for the first time to determine betahistine dihydrochloride (BTH). The N-CQDs were prepared via a simple hydrothermal approach and characterized using transmission electron microscopy for electronic structure and morphology, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, confirming their nanoscale structure, elemental composition, and surface functionalization. The N-CQDs gave strong blue emission at 440.0 nm upon excitation at 345.0 nm. BTH-induced concentration-dependent quenching of N-CQDs fluorescence was mainly due to static quenching. Under optimized conditions, the proposed method showed excellent linearity over the concentration range of 0.025-4.00 μg/mL. The method was successfully applied to pharmaceutical dosage forms, content uniformity testing, and urine samples, providing accurate results with satisfactory recoveries and good precision, without interference from common excipients or matrix components. Notably, the procedure operates entirely in distilled water, requiring minimal reagents with a short incubation time, highlighting its simplicity and practicality. The greenness and sustainability of the developed method were quantitatively evaluated and confirmed using the carbon footprint reduction index (CaFRI), the newly developed Nanomaterials Assessment Tool (NAT), and an integrated NQS-SAMI assessment.
The development of photoluminescent Ni(II) complexes has recently attracted growing interest. However, it is highly challenging, and photoluminescent Ni(II) complexes are very rare. In this work, a square-planar Ni(II) complex bearing a rigid tetradentate naphthyridine-fused dicarbene diphenolate ligand, Ni(NpC2O2), was designed and synthesized. The complex exhibits blue ligand-originated fluorescence in DCM at room temperature. At 77 K, it shows weak phosphorescence at 515 nm with a lifetime of 51.8 μs in a frozen 2-MeTHF matrix. Based on the experimental studies and DFT/TD-DFT calculations, it is plausible that the phosphorescence originates from the T7/T8 state(s) via a high-lying intersystem crossing (HISC) process from the S3 state. The assignment of anti-Kasha phosphorescence is in line with the excitation-dependent phosphorescence at 77 K. This work demonstrates that rigid and fused carbene ligands might be promising to light up Ni(II) complexes.
Implant-associated infection remains a critical challenge for orthopedic implants, particularly for bioinert polyetheretherketone (PEEK), which also requires improved osteogenic support. Here, we developed a heterostructured surface on PEEK by coupling a graphite-like layer with a defect-rich TaOx nanoarray. The graphite-like layer promoted uniform TaOx nanoarray formation and may facilitate interfacial electronic coupling, while the TaOx nanoarray showed polarity-dependent and interface-limited charge-transport behavior in model electrical tests. Upon bacterial contact, the heterostructure produced a bacteria-associated 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) oxidative response and markedly decreased bacterial ATP levels, leading to broad-spectrum antibacterial performance. Thermal annealing attenuated defect-associated TaOx states and weakened antibacterial activity, supporting the involvement of defect-related interfacial states in the antibacterial process. Meanwhile, Ta/H-PEEK supported osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic differentiation in vitro and promoted peri-implant bone formation in vivo. The surface also reduced early bacterial burden in a rat infection model. Collectively, this work demonstrates a heterostructure-based PEEK surface strategy to integrate antibacterial activity with osteogenic compatibility.
ABSTRACT Praseodymium‐doped antimony–phosphate glasses with the composition 47.5Sb 2 O 3 –47.5NaPO 3 –5WO 3 – x Pr 6 O 11 ( x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.3 mol%) were synthesized by melt‐quenching and characterized by DSC, FTIR, density, hardness, ultrasonic, and UV–Vis techniques. T g (314.26°C–320.61°C) and Δ T (40.12°C–59.07°C) showed limited variation, with highest stability for the undoped glass. FTIR confirmed phosphate groups (P–O–P, PO 3 2− , PO 2 − ) and increasing NBO, indicating Pr‐induced depolymerization. Density decreased (4.2735–4.2223 g/cm 3 ), while hardness increased (254–289 kg/mm 2 ). Molar volume (48.47–49.76 cm 3 /mol), oxygen molar volume (16.16–16.40 cm 3 /mol), and molar refraction increased, reflecting a more open, polarizable structure. Elastic moduli increased up to 0.25‐mol% Pr then slightly decreased. The optical band gap decreased (3.079–3.022 eV), Urbach energy increased (0.350–0.374 eV), and refractive index increased with Pr content. The results indicate that Pr 6 O 11 functions as an effective network modifier, promoting controlled depolymerization and enhanced optical tunability while preserving thermal stability and mechanical integrity. Among the studied compositions, 0.25‐mol% Pr 6 O 11 provides the optimal balance between structural rigidity, optical properties, and mechanical strength, making these glasses promising candidates for composition‐tunable active photonic media, particularly in broadband optical amplifiers, visible–near infrared solid‐state laser hosts, and high‐refractive‐index waveguide components, where the combined enhancement of refractive index, mechanical strength, and electronic polarizability enables efficient light confinement and emission control.
Hematoma formation represents one of the earliest biological events during bone healing after bone injury or biomaterial implantation, a process that involves coagulation, provisional matrix formation, innate immune activation and early adaptive immune signaling. During this stage, the hematoma is rapidly infiltrated by neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes, which collectively construct the initial osteoimmune microenvironment that modulates subsequent angiogenesis, osteogenesis and osseointegration. Therefore, a systematic elucidation of the hematoma formation process and the regulatory factors governing hematoma behavior provides an important foundation for designing immunomodulatory bone implants. However, most current research has focused primarily on the modulation of macrophages by surface characteristics, relying heavily on simplified in vitro monoculture systems, with limited in vivo temporal characterization of the intact hematoma microenvironment. Insufficient investigation of other immune cells and the regulation of hematomas limits our in-depth understanding of the interplay between hematomas and immunity. This review focuses on the hematoma as a spatiotemporally regulated immune niche and summarizes how material-derived biophysical cues, including surface topography, porosity, wettability and mechanical stiffness, may influence hematoma evolution and the downstream establishment of the osteoimmune microenvironment. This review also discusses the current challenges and future research directions in unraveling the complex material-hematoma-immunity axis, aiming to provide a conceptual framework for the development of translationally relevant immunomodulatory biomaterials for both physiological and pathological bone repair.
Despite advancements in medical technology, pulmonary diseases such as refractory infections and lung cancer persist as leading causes of death globally, primarily due to the paucity of early diagnostic biomarkers and the nonspecific nature of systemic therapies. Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) luminogens offer a paradigm shift, overcoming the inherent limitations of traditional fluorophores through their unique aggregation-enhanced emission mechanism. This review highlights the evolution of AIE-based theranostic platforms tailored for respiratory medicine. We showcase how AIE probes achieve high-fidelity imaging and in situ photothermal/photodynamic ablation of pulmonary pathogens, alongside their capacity to guide surgical resection and potentiate immunotherapy in lung cancer. Key challenges hindering clinical translation, such as deep-tissue light penetration and scalable manufacturing, are critically evaluated. Ultimately, this work underscores the potential of intelligent AIE systems to revolutionize the precision management of pulmonary pathologies through multidisciplinary convergence.
ABSTRACT Double perovskite materials, such as strontium–gadolinium tetra tungstate (Sr 9 Gd 2 W 4 O 24 ), offer tunable luminescence by adjusting composition and structure, making them ideal for LED and display applications. In this study, Sr 9 Gd 2 W 4 O 24 phosphors doped with various concentrations of Mn 4+ ions were synthesized using the sol–gel method and systematically investigated to elucidate their structural, optical, and luminescent properties. The XRD and FTIR confirmed the crystal structure and phase purity, while the DRS studies revealed a suitable band gap for optoelectronic applications. Under the excitation of 343 nm, the phosphors exhibit intense red emission at 681 nm, attributed to 2 E g → 4 A 2g transition of Mn 4+ . The photoluminescence color photometry analysis revealed emission in the red region with a color purity of 96.21%. Crystal field analysis helps to estimate factors such as Racah parameters and nephelauxetic parameters. These parameters suggest that Mn 4+ experience a strong crystal field within the Sr 9 Gd 2 W 4 O 24 matrix and a moderate degree of covalency between Mn 4+ –O 2− bonds. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies were also performed on the current phosphor to investigate the dopant's coordination in the host. The results suggest potential application in deep‐red LEDs for plant growth and advanced ceramics for optoelectronics.
The widespread occurrence of pesticide residues and inorganic contaminants in vegetables requires rapid, sensitive, and reliable analytical approaches for food safety monitoring. MXene quantum dots (MQDs) have attracted significant attention as advanced luminescent nanomaterials due to their tunable photoluminescence, surface chemistry, and strong interfacial interactions. This review provides a mechanism-oriented overview of MQDs-based optical sensing platforms for detecting contaminants in vegetable matrices, emphasizing photoluminescence behavior and signal modulation mechanisms. The influence of key structural parameters, including quantum confinement, surface terminations, heteroatom doping, and defect engineering, is discussed in relation to emission properties and sensing performance. Fundamental photophysical processes, including charge transfer, energy transfer, and inner filter effects (IFE), are analyzed to clarify fluorescence responses during analyte recognition. Various sensing strategies, such as fluorescence probes, ratiometric sensors, dual-mode optical platforms, and MQDs-assisted nanozyme systems, are highlighted, demonstrating high sensitivity and practical applicability. In hybrid nanozyme platforms, MQDs primarily act as interfacial electronic mediators and catalytic enhancers by facilitating charge transfer and improving interactions with catalytic components rather than functioning as independent catalytic centers. Remaining challenges include matrix interference, reproducibility, stability, and mechanistic understanding. Future perspectives focus on integrating MQDs with portable devices and data-driven technologies for real-time food safety monitoring.
Double perovskite materials, such as strontium-gadolinium tetra tungstate (Sr9Gd2W4O24), offer tunable luminescence by adjusting composition and structure, making them ideal for LED and display applications. In this study, Sr9Gd2W4O24 phosphors doped with various concentrations of Mn4+ ions were synthesized using the sol-gel method and systematically investigated to elucidate their structural, optical, and luminescent properties. The XRD and FTIR confirmed the crystal structure and phase purity, while the DRS studies revealed a suitable band gap for optoelectronic applications. Under the excitation of 343 nm, the phosphors exhibit intense red emission at 681 nm, attributed to 2Eg → 4A2g transition of Mn4+. The photoluminescence color photometry analysis revealed emission in the red region with a color purity of 96.21%. Crystal field analysis helps to estimate factors such as Racah parameters and nephelauxetic parameters. These parameters suggest that Mn4+ experience a strong crystal field within the Sr9Gd2W4O24 matrix and a moderate degree of covalency between Mn4+-O2- bonds. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies were also performed on the current phosphor to investigate the dopant's coordination in the host. The results suggest potential application in deep-red LEDs for plant growth and advanced ceramics for optoelectronics.
Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP)/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement is an effective fixation material for bone tissue regeneration but has drawbacks, including poor hydrophilicity and low biological activity. To overcome these drawbacks, we present a novel human hair keratin-modified BCP/PMMA (KBP) composite. In this study, the influence of human hair keratin on the setting properties, mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, in vitro bioactivity and in vivo biocompatibility of KBP bone cement was investigated. Results show that incorporation of human hair-derived keratin improves the setting properties and hydrophilicity of bone cement, as reflected by a 16% reduction in contact angle, 80% increase in water absorption, 21% increase in porosity and 6% decrease in maximum setting temperature. The modification also improved mesenchymal stem cell viability by 15% and enhanced osteogenic differentiation. The keratin-based composite markedly promoted bone repair in a Sprague-Dawley rat bone defect model, with bone mineral density elevated by 17% and bone volume fraction increased by 15%. In vivo studies further demonstrated that KBP is nontoxic, nonpyrogenic and nonsensitizing, underscoring its potential as a safe and effective alternative for bone tissue repair. In summary, human hair keratin-modified bone cement is a promising candidate for orthopedic clinical applications.
Praseodymium-doped antimony-phosphate glasses with the composition 47.5Sb2O3-47.5NaPO3-5WO3-xPr6O11 (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.3 mol%) were synthesized by melt-quenching and characterized by DSC, FTIR, density, hardness, ultrasonic, and UV-Vis techniques. Tg (314.26°C-320.61°C) and ΔT (40.12°C-59.07°C) showed limited variation, with highest stability for the undoped glass. FTIR confirmed phosphate groups (P-O-P, PO3 2-, PO2 -) and increasing NBO, indicating Pr-induced depolymerization. Density decreased (4.2735-4.2223 g/cm3), while hardness increased (254-289 kg/mm2). Molar volume (48.47-49.76 cm3/mol), oxygen molar volume (16.16-16.40 cm3/mol), and molar refraction increased, reflecting a more open, polarizable structure. Elastic moduli increased up to 0.25-mol% Pr then slightly decreased. The optical band gap decreased (3.079-3.022 eV), Urbach energy increased (0.350-0.374 eV), and refractive index increased with Pr content. The results indicate that Pr6O11 functions as an effective network modifier, promoting controlled depolymerization and enhanced optical tunability while preserving thermal stability and mechanical integrity. Among the studied compositions, 0.25-mol% Pr6O11 provides the optimal balance between structural rigidity, optical properties, and mechanical strength, making these glasses promising candidates for composition-tunable active photonic media, particularly in broadband optical amplifiers, visible-near infrared solid-state laser hosts, and high-refractive-index waveguide components, where the combined enhancement of refractive index, mechanical strength, and electronic polarizability enables efficient light confinement and emission control.
Perylene diimides (PDIs), as one type of the most promising luminescent materials, have been attracted much attention. Herein, chemiluminescent (CL) properties of two N-annulated PDI dimers with hexyl linear alkyl chains (PDI-1) and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzyl sidechains (PDI-2) at the pyrrolic N-positions were investigated. CL emissions are explored in chemical reactions with bis(2-carbopentyloxy-3,5,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (CPPO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Spooling CL spectroscopy was utilized for investigating their CL reaction mechanism, illuminant decay and absolute efficiencies. CL emission peak wavelength of PDI-1 or PDI-2 is similar to their photoluminescence (PL) one, demonstrating emissions mainly from the monomeric excited state in the absence of surface states. Moreover, absolute irradiance measurements on a set of a spectrograph and CCD camera or an Ocean Insight spectrometer along with a 6-inch integrating sphere were calibrated using a standardized light source for further quantum efficiency determinations. The absolute CL efficiency of PDI-1 (3.57% ± 0.03%) was discovered to be 6 times higher than that of PDI-2 (0.603% ± 0.001%). The absolute CL efficiencies of PDI-1 and PDI-2 are superior to those of many other organic molecules and graphene quantum dots. This work provides a novel pathway for the exploration of these PDI materials to improve their CL performance.
To address the clinical challenge of difficult bone defect healing in osteoporosis patients, this study developed a functional delivery system based on a thermosensitive hydrogel loaded with epoxomicin (CS-βGP@10Epoxomicin). This system possesses injectability and body-temperature-triggered in situ gelation properties, overcoming the poor targeting and potential complications associated with systemic drug administration, while achieving dual anti-inflammatory and osteoclast-inhibitory effects within the local bone defect microenvironment. In vitro experiments confirmed its ability to significantly reduce the expression of inflammatory cytokines and osteoclast-related factors. In an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse femoral defect model, local application of this hydrogel significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at the defect site by 53.47% compared to the OVX group and downregulated the expression of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) by 27.37%. The system maintained favorable biocompatibility while effectively inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, alleviating inflammatory responses and suppressing osteoclast differentiation. Transcriptomic analysis of a public dataset further supported the central role of the NF-κB pathway in the pathological microenvironment of osteoporosis. In summary, this study establishes an intelligent localized delivery strategy that integrates targetability, safety and therapeutic efficacy, providing a potential solution for the local treatment of osteoporotic bone defects.
To scrutinise the spectroscopic performance of the Mg-activated potassium phospho-borate glasses doped with Dy3+ ions, a novel series of alkali/transition metals and heavy-metal modified glasses have been fabricated utilising the conventional melt-quench process. The nephelauxetic ratio (1<) and negative bonding parameter (δ) confirms that Dy-O bonds are ionic. The photoluminescence spectra show emission in the visible region is dominated by the electric-dipole 4F9/2 → 6H13/2 transition (~573 nm). The estimated JO parameters have the trend as Ω2 > Ω6 > Ω4, which indicates the asymmetric environment around the Dy3+. Exceptionally, the BPMKD:P glass follows the Ω2 > Ω4 > Ω6 trend. CIE analysis affirmed that the studied glass samples exhibit emission in the white region, with CdO and ZnO modified glass showing colour purity as 5% and 8%, respectively, which indicates its closeness to the pure-white light emission. Radiative parameters such as A, βR, σE, Δλeff and τrad were computed for the 6H15/2 → 6F15/2 and 6H15/2 → 6F13/2 transitions. Among all glasses, BPMKD:Z glass shows enhanced magnitudes of the radiative parameters, which demonstrate superior potential for lasing and opto-electronic applications. The decay profiles of the 4F9/2 level showed bi-exponential behaviour, wherein the higher quantum efficiency is found for the BPMKD:Z glass, which further confirms its suitability for white-light emitting applications.
Embolic microspheres are important for the interventional treatment of solid tumors, but it is a dilemma for microspheres to keep sufficient strength and resilience. Herein, we propose a strategy to fabricate core-shell poly(vinyl alcohol) microspheres with gradient crosslinking (GCL) on an industrial scale to solve the dilemma. The synthesized GCL microspheres exhibit superior mechanical characteristics in comparison to the homogeneous microspheres and the conventional core-shell microspheres produced by standard one-step and two-step methods, respectively. An in vitro model is conducted to assess the distribution in the vascular network and migration over time of three microspheres. The GCL microspheres possess optimal strength and flexibility, facilitating distal vascular embolization and reducing the risk of microsphere migration over time. The performances are validated in vivo with the porcine renal model in large animal experiments. Clinical trials addressing liver cancer further confirm the embolic efficacy and safety of the GCL microspheres in humans. The relationship between mechanical properties and embolic efficiency offers valuable insights for the development of other embolic agents in the formulism of interventional therapy.
Fluorescent sensors have become essential tools for achieving on-site detection in forensic science owing to their inherently high sensitivity and specificity. In recent years, with the continuous advancement of science and technology, the application of fluorescent sensing technology in the forensic field has been significantly enhanced. It has demonstrated particularly promising prospects in the detection of illicit drugs and toxicological substances, the analysis of gunshot and explosive residues, as well as the detection of latent fingerprints. However, substantial challenges remain in several key areas, including structural sensor design, signal amplification technologies, simultaneous multitarget detection, and the further miniaturization and intelligentization of fluorescent devices. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress of fluorescent sensors in forensic science reported in recent years. Furthermore, it explores the development trends of fluorescent sensing technology for on-site forensic detection. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive reference for the future development of fluorescent sensors characterized by high targeting capability, low background interference, exceptional portability, and advanced intelligence.
2-(pyridin-4-yl)-8H-thieno[2,3-b] indole (ITP) fluorescent probe has been synthesized and utilized as a ratiometric sensor for cyanide anion. The color change upon the addition of cyanide anion is easily noticeable with naked eyes. The greater difference between the absorption and emission spectrum due to the inclusion of cyanide is attributed to the enhanced intramolecular charge transfer (CT) by hydrogen bonding of CN¯ with ITP, which greatly increased the electron density on the donor thieno[2,3-b] indole. The cyanide sensing mechanism is further confirmed by 1H NMR and DFT studies. Further, ITP exhibited aggregation-induced emission enhancement in DMSO:water. In addition, the presence of pyridine moiety in ITP is helpful for acid sensing.
A simple, rapid, precise, and selective first derivative spectrofluorimetric (1D) technique was suggested for repaglinide (REP) and febuxostat (FEB) simultaneous quantitation in pure, spiked human plasma samples and dosage forms. The approach was based on the first derivative transformation of the conventional fluorescence emission spectra. Excitation was fixed at 250 nm, and the first derivative of the emission spectra was recorded for each sample. Repaglinide (REP) was measured at 336.5 nm and febuxostat (FEB) at 363.5 nm in presence of each other using 0.2-M acetate buffer pH 3.9. Several experimental factors were examined and adjusted based on their effect on the fluorescence intensity. The validation was performed in accordance with ICH guidelines and the amplitude first derivative (1D) versus concentrations curves covered concentration ranges of 0.01-0.18 μg/mL for REP and 0.03-0.2 μg/mL for FEB. The quantification limits (LOQs) were 0.007 and 0.026 μg/mL for (REP) and (FEB), whereas lower detection limits (LODs) were 0.002 and 0.009 μg/mL, respectively. The suggested approach was effectively used to determine the two drugs in spiked human plasma samples in ranges 0.01-0.2 μg/mL for REP and 0.05-0.2 μg/mL for FEB. The proposed technique was effectively used to identify the (REP) and (FEB) in multiple pharmaceutical products.
NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) is an oxidoreductase that is overexpressed in various types of solid tumor cells and serves as a promising biomarker for cancer. Fluorescence detection of NQO1 is of great significance for the early screening of certain malignancies. Herein, a reaction probe (PACN) for selectively recognizing NQO1 was developed by hybridizing coumarin analogues modified with benzothiazole as the fluorescent reporter and a trimethyl-locked quinone propionic acid as the NQO1 specific recognition unit. The probe PACN demonstrated high selectivity and sensitivity in the specific recognition of NQO1, with a low detection limit of 2.68 ng/mL. Moreover, a significant turn-on fluorescent signal can be observed at 525 nm upon reaction with NQO1. Furthermore, PACN can specifically detect NQO1 in cancer cells (A549 cells) rather than in normal cells (BEAS-2B cells). Notably, an inflammation model was established using tail-damaged zebrafish to induce the expression of NQO1, and PACN was successfully used to image NQO1 in the wound area of the tail-damaged zebrafish. Meanwhile, the design of PACN provides important information for the early diagnosis of cancer and also offers certain guidance for the development of fluorescent probes specifically for detecting NQO1.
