The development of technologies for clean, sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation has become imperative as researchers tackle the dual challenges of the global energy crisis and rising environmental pollution. Photocatalytic technology, which directly harnesses solar energy to drive chemical reactions, demonstrates great promise for energy conversion and pollutant degradation. Bismuth-vanadate (BiVO4) is a visible light–responsive semiconductor that has garnered considerable research interest owing to its narrow bandgap, high chemical stability, and favorable band structure. However, its practical deployment as a photocatalyst is hindered by the rapid recombination of photogenerated carriers and low quantum efficiency. This review systematically summarizes strategies for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of BiVO4 through the heterojunction construction, focusing on the differences in band alignment mechanisms, charge separation pathways, and redox capability preservation among type-II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme heterojunctions. The discussion covers key characterization techniques for heterojunction structures and external factors influencing photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the effectiveness of BiVO4-based heterojunctions in solar energy conversion and environmental remediation applications is summarized. Finally, future research directions are proposed to address current challenges related to material stability, scalable synthesis, and practical environmental applicability. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical reference for the design and application of high-efficiency BiVO4-based photocatalysts.

With the accelerating pace of global economic development, the extensive consumption of traditional energy resources such as coal and oil has led to substantial emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide. Compounding this issue, the irregular discharge of wastewater from industrial, agricultural, manufacturing, and domestic sources further exacerbates environmental degradation. As a result, energy shortages and environmental pollution have emerged as critical challenges that urgently threaten sustainable human development. Semiconductor-based photocatalytic technology has gained widespread recognition as a promising approach to mitigating energy crises and environmental issues, leveraging solar energy for chemical conversion processes. Among various candidates, nitrogen-rich graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N5) has attracted significant research interest due to its narrow and suitably positioned band structure, which enables superior visible-light harvesting and photocatalytic activity. This review comprehensively summarizes the synthesis strategies of g-C3N5-based photocatalytic materials and elucidates the mechanisms underlying heterojunction strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performance. Moving beyond the conventional type-II system, the review places a particular emphasis on the more advanced Z-scheme and S-scheme heterojunctions, which are designed to overcome the drawback of weak redox ability while maintaining efficient charge separation. We systematically discuss the applications of these g-C3N5-based heterojunctions—encompassing type-II, Z-scheme, and S-scheme architectures—in diverse photocatalytic processes, including H2 evolution, CO2 reduction, environmental remediation, and N2 fixation. The challenges associated with the practical application of g-C3N5 photocatalysts are also discussed, along with prospective directions for future research. This review is expected to offer valuable perspectives on the physicochemical properties of g-C3N5 and inspire innovative approaches for the rational design of advanced g-C3N5-based photocatalytic systems for heterogeneous applications.

Porphyrin bimetallic metal-organic frameworks (BMOFs) have promising applications in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) for tumor therapy. However, their therapeutic effect is restricted by the insufficient reactive oxygen species generated by BMOFs. Herein, a nanobomb, Fe-TCPP(Mn)/DOX/PEG/Apt-M (FTMDPA), with pH-responsive properties, was designed for fluorescence imaging-guided triple-action tumor annihilation. First, a novel Fe/Mn porphyrin BMOF, Fe-TCPP(Mn) (FTM), was assembled by a solvothermal method to achieve enhanced tumor therapy through ROS amplification. Under 660 nm laser irradiation, TCPP(Mn) could act as a photosensitizer to activate PDT. Significantly, TCPP(Mn) and Fe3+ exhibit peroxidase-like and Fenton-like activities, catalyzing the generation of •OH from H2O2, which effectively amplifies CDT. Besides, FTMDPA exhibits pH-responsive DOX release capability, which could achieve chemotherapy (CHT), and could efficiently accumulate at the tumor site with the aid of an aptamer. Importantly, FTMDPA exhibits fluorescence imaging, which has potential applications in detection and image-guided precision therapy. Therefore, the designed nanobomb integrates targeted delivery, pH responsiveness, fluorescence imaging, and amplified PDT-CDT-CHT triple-action tumor annihilation into a single system, providing a promising strategy for tumor diagnosis and treatment.

As a novel cancer treatment method, photothermal therapy (PTT) is considered an up-and-coming candidate for cancer treatment owing to its low invasiveness and ease of implementation. Nevertheless, single PTT in the first transparency (NIR-I, 750-1000 nm) biowindows is often insufficient to eliminate tumor cells due to light scattering and absorption at the tumor site. Therefore, the rational design of multifunctional nanocomposites for multimodal combination therapies based on PTT is attractive for improving treatment efficacy while reducing drug resistance and adverse reactions. Herein, we report a smart multifunctional nanocomposite DOX-Mo2C-PAA/Apt-M (DMPM) based on molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) MXene for active targeted photothermal-chemotherapy in the second transparency (NIR-II, 1000-1350 nm) biowindows. This nanocomposite effectively absorbed light and converted it into heat, achieving a photothermal conversion efficiency of 38.64% under NIR-II laser irradiation. Meanwhile, the DMPM nanocomposite exhibited pH and laser dual-stimuli-triggered doxorubicin (DOX) release in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, DMPM could effectively target MCF-7 solid tumors, significantly improving therapeutic efficacy. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that DMPM triggered significant cellular killing and tumor eradication without systemic toxicity. Our work not only presents a new approach for multimode cancer treatment but also expands the application of Mo2C MXene in the biomedical field.

Thermal injury to surrounding normal organs resulting from hyperthermia (>50 °C) is the main challenge in photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumors. Thus, significant effort should be directed toward developing photothermal strategies that deliver robust cancer cell killing under mild hyperthermia (≤45 °C). Herein, a multimodal therapeutic nanoplatform Ti3C2/ICG/PDA/GA/Apt-M (TIPGA) was developed for active targeted tumor therapy at low temperatures. In the TIPGA therapeutic nanoplatform, Ti3C2 MXenes were employed as photothermal agents (PTAs) to produce therapeutic heat upon near-infrared light irradiation, and indocyanine green (ICG) endowed the TIPGA therapeutic nanoplatform with photodynamic therapy (PDT) performance. Furthermore, a polydopamine (PDA) membrane was coated on the therapeutic nanoplatform to improve stability and gambogic acid (GA) as an antitumor drug and heat shock protein (HSP) inhibitor was loaded onto the nanoplatform. A transmembrane glycoprotein mucin (MUC1) aptamer (Apt-M) was covalently bound to the therapeutic nanoplatform, endowing this therapeutic nanoplatform with an excellent active tumor targeting ability. The TIPGA nanoplatform exhibited efficient cellular uptake mediated by Apt-M and the intracellular release of GA triggered by glutathione (GSH). GA downregulated HSP90 expression, reducing the tumor cell resistance to thermal stresses. Encouragingly, experiments demonstrated that the TIPGA therapeutic nanoplatform could sharply accumulate in MCF-7 tumors due to its potent active targeting capability and displayed superior tumor suppressive ability through targeted PTT/PDT/CHT at low temperatures. Our findings reveal a novel approach of the Ti3C2-based therapeutic nanoplatform for targeted PTT/PDT/CHT at low temperatures.

Catalytic therapy based on nanozymes has emerged as a significant approach to combat tumors. However, catalytic therapy is associated with the big challenge of insufficient treatment. Herein, an N, P dual-doped hollow carbon sphere (HCNPN)-based multifunctional nanozyme (HCNPNs/AGPM) was rationally devised and constructed to achieve targeted photothermal/catalytic combination therapy. Firstly, l-arginine (l-Arg) and glucose oxidase (GOx) were loaded onto HCNPNs to obtain HCNPNs/AG. Then, they were functionalized with an aptamer (Apt) to obtain a multifunctional nanozyme. The constructed HCNPNs/AGPM possessed multienzyme-like activities, including GOx-like, peroxidase (POD)-like and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-like catalytic activities, which enabled the multifunctional nanozyme to generate sufficient hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) and NO for catalytic therapy. Moreover, this multifunctional nanozyme displayed outstanding photothermal-conversion activity for photothermal therapy (PTT) upon 808 nm laser irradiation because of the strong light absorption capacity of HCNPNs. Notably, the multifunctional nanozyme showed enhanced cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, benefiting from the specific recognition ability of Apt. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that HCNPNs/AGPM could eliminate tumors without apparent side effects. Consequently, the constructed multifunctional nanozyme may provide a hopeful paradigm for tumor-targeted therapy and inspire the further development of nanozymes in clinical trials.

In conventional tumor therapy, most nanomaterials accumulate non-specifically in target areas through enhanced permeability and retention effects, leading to poor therapeutic outcomes. In this paper, a multifunctional composite nanotherapeutic platform COF/ICG@PDA-Apt-A was prepared for targeted and combined photothermal-photodynamic therapy of tumors. The successful introduction of indocyanine green and polydopamine greatly enhanced the photothermal (photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 43.3%) and photodynamic performance of the nanotherapeutic platform. Under the active targeting action of the aptamer, the nanotherapeutic platform showed satisfactory anti-tumor ability through combination therapy. This work may contribute to the development of new active targeted delivery platforms, improving delivery efficiency and therapeutic effectiveness. An aptamer-based multifunctional composite nanotherapeutic platform COF/ICG@PDA-Apt-A was prepared for targeted and combined photothermal-photodynamic therapy of tumors.

Hollow carbon nanospheres (HCNs) are an ideal nanomaterial for photothermal therapy (PTT) owing to their low cytotoxicity, excellent photothermal conversion performance, unique cavities and porous shells. However, poor targeting and inadequate efficiency hugely impede their clinical application. Herein, a novel targeted therapeutic system HCNs/DOX/PEG/Apt-M was successfully constructed, which exhibited specific recognition and binding capabilities towards MCF-7 cells. As expected, the therapeutic system could rapidly accumulate in the MCF-7 cells with the aid of the MUCI aptamer (Apt-M). Furthermore, the therapeutic system exhibited excellent DOX controlled release ability during treatments to facilitate chemotherapy (CHT). Under laser irradiation, the therapeutic system could effectively absorb the near-infrared light and generate a large amount of heat to achieve PTT. Moreover, the temperature elevation of the therapeutic system promoted DOX release and enhanced the potency of CHT. Excitingly, experimental results confirmed that HCNs/DOX/PEG/Apt-M exhibited excellent CHT-PTT combination therapeutic effect and the active targeting efficiency for the MCF-7 tumor. This study opened a new avenue to breast tumor-targeted therapy based on novel nanomaterials. The aptamer-modified HCNs/DOX/PEG with photothermal and chemotherapeutic effects can effectively promote the targeted drug delivery and the precise ablation of the photothermal agent, which achieving good treatment efficient on MCF-7 cells.

Active-targeted nanoplatforms could specifically target tumors compared to normal cells, making them a promising therapeutic agent. The aptamer is a kind of short DNA or RNA sequence that can specifically bind to target molecules, and could be widely used as the active targeting agents of nanoplatforms to achieve active-targeted therapy of tumors. Herein, an aptamer modified nanoplatform DOX@PCN@Apt-M was designed for active-targeted chemo-photodynamic therapy of tumors. Zr-based porphyrinic nanoscale metal organic framework PCN-224 was synthesized through a one-pot reaction, which could produce cytotoxic 1O2 for efficient treatment of tumor cells. To improve the therapeutic effect of the tumor, the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into PCN-224 to form DOX@PCN-224 for tumor combination therapy. Active-targeted combination therapy achieved by modifying the MUC1 aptamer (Apt-M) onto DOX@PCN-224 surface can not only further reduce the dosage of therapeutic agents, but also reduce their toxic and side effects on normal tissues. In vitro, experimental results indicated that DOX@PCN@Apt-M exhibited enhanced combined therapeutic effect and active targeting efficiency under 808 nm laser irradiation for MCF-7 tumor cells. Based on PCN-224 nanocarriers and aptamer MUC1, this work provides a novel strategy for precisely targeting MCF-7 tumor cells.

Background Ti 3 C 2 is a type of transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXenes) with high light-to-heat conversion efficiency property, which has been widely used in cancer treatment recently. In fact, active targeting delivery of MXenes nanomaterials with targeting molecule could enhance the therapeutic efficacy. However, targeted therapy of MXenes has not been further studied in the past. Aptamers (Apt) with excellent affinity and high specificity properties have been widely used as targeting tools. Predictably, the incorporation of Apt into Ti 3 C 2 nanomaterials will offer an unprecedented opportunity in the research fields of cancer targeted therapy. Results Transmembrane glycoprotein mucin 1 (MUC1) is overexpressed on the surface of MCF-7 cells, and MUC1 Apt (Apt-M) could target MCF-7 cells with high affinity and specificity. Here, a smart targeting nanotherapeutic system Ti 3 C 2 /Apt-M was fabricated, which could specifically recognize and enter in MCF-7 cells. Benefitting from the desirable targeted performance of Apt-M, MCF-7 cells completed the ingestion process of Ti 3 C 2 /Apt-Mf nanosheets within 4 h, and Apt-M facilitated the entry of the Ti 3 C 2 /Apt-Mf nanosheets into MCF-7 cells. Besides, Ti 3 C 2 /Apt-M nanosheets exhibited the potential as an outstanding photothermal agent (PTA) because of the photothermal performance inherited from wrapped Ti 3 C 2 nanosheets. As demonstrated, upon 808 nm laser irradiation, the Ti 3 C 2 /Apt-M nanotherapeutic system displayed a satisfactory antitumor effect by targeted photothermal therapy both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion This study provides a new idea for the development of MXenes nanotherapeutic system with high active targeting performance. Graphical Abstract

采用水热法快速合成了一种新型介孔氧化硅-石墨烯气凝胶复合吸附材料(MSGA).通过X射线衍射、扫描电镜等方法对MSGA进行表征.结果 表明,经过水热反应和冻于处理后的MSGA材料的介孔结构保持完好,介孔氧化硅在MSGA中的分散具有高度均一性.当介孔氧化硅的含量达到88.2(wt)％时,MSGA的比表面积可达395.5m2/g.MSGA材料对苯蒸汽的常温常压吸附量为10.77mL/g,是石墨烯气凝胶的13倍,吸附穿透时间达到石墨烯气凝胶的34.4倍.在0.8％的环境湿度下,由于材料表面羟基的亲和性,进一步提升了对苯的吸附.得益于超低密度和丰富的内部孔隙结构,MSGA能够适应高达500mL/min的气流量.上述结果表明,该复合材料在VOCs消除领域具有广阔的应用前景.