As a novel drug development paradigm, selective activation of prodrugs provides the potential for precise tumor chemotherapy, thereby presenting an opportunity for advancing cancer treatment. The combination of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and prodrug can enhance the therapeutic efficacy while simultaneously enabling realtime monitoring of drug distribution and release. However, the tumor hypoxia microenvironment and the frequent high-dose administration of prodrugs significantly impede therapeutic efficacy and escalate treatment-related risks. Herein, a tumor microenvironment-specific release prodrug is constructed, termed NBS-2S-5FU. Under the influence of glutathione (GSH), NBS-2S-5FU undergoes activation, leading to the release of photosensitizer NBS and chemotherapeutic agent 5-FU derivatives. Under irradiation, NBS produces sufficient superoxide radical ({\mathrm{O}}_2^{-\bullet }) while 5-FU derivatives inhibit DNA biosynthesis, thereby effectively suppressing tumor growth at low doses. Subsequent in vivo studies utilizing NBS-2S-5FU liposomes exhibit outstanding anti-cancer effectiveness. This study highlights a promising direction for advancing combined prodrugs that integrate PDT and chemotherapy.

The significant increase in demand for fuels and chemicals driven by global economic expansion has exacerbated concerns over fossil fuel consumption and environmental pollution. To achieve sustainable production of fuels and chemicals, biomass resources provide a rich repository for carbon-neutral, green renewable energy, and organic carbon. This paper reviews the transformation and utilization of lignocellulosic biomass and its derivatives, emphasizing their valorization into high-quality chemicals and biofuels. The advantages and disadvantages of various pretreatment methods are discussed based on the composition of lignocellulose. Furthermore, the methods and pathways for the valorization and conversion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are detailed according to the unique functional groups of different lignocellulosic platform molecules. However, the complex and resilient structure of biomass presents challenges for the disassembly and utilization of single components, and achieving high yields and selectivity for target products remains difficult. In conclusion, this paper comprehensively reviews the various types and pretreatment technologies of lignocellulose, focusing on the methods and pathways for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass and its derivatives, thereby providing clear guidance and insights for optimizing lignocellulose utilization in the future.

The widespread use of diesel engines results in significant environmental contamination due to emitted pollutants, particularly soot particles. These pollutants are detrimental to public health. At present, one of the most effective ways to remove soot particles is the catalytic diesel particulate filter after-treatment technology, which requires the catalyst to have superior low temperature activity. Compared with cerium oxide which is widely used, cobalt oxide in transition metal oxides has been widely studied in recent years because of its high redox ability and easy to control morphology. This paper elaborates on the influence of modification techniques such as doping, loading, and solid solution on the catalytic performance of cobalt-based catalysts in soot oxidation. Along the same lines, it further reviews the research progress on cobalt-based oxide catalysts with specific dimensional structures and morphologies in soot oxidation. Finally, it provides an outlook on the challenges faced by the theoretical basis and applied research of cobalt-based catalysts in soot oxidation.

Propylene oxide plays a pivotal role as an organic synthesis intermediate, boasting extensive downstream applications and promising market prospects. Propene epoxidation via molecular oxygen has garnered considerable attention due to its costeffectiveness, environmental friendliness, ease of operation, and straightforward product separation. This paper provides an in-depth exploration of recent advancements, ranging from nanoparticle to Single-atom catalysts (SACs), in the context of propene epoxidation using molecular oxygen. Conventional nanoparticle catalysts, including those based on Ag, Cu, and other metals, are examined with regard to their contributions to support effects, electron effects, or crystal-plane effects within the mechanistic investigation. Furthermore, emerging SACs (specifically Mo, Cu, and Co) are discussed in terms of synthesis strategies, characterization methods, and mechanism studies. This comprehensive review sheds new light on design strategies, relevant characterizations, and thorough mechanism investigations aimed at fostering the development of efficient catalysts, thereby expediting progress in the industrial implementation of propene epoxidation.

In vivo optical imaging has become an invaluable tool for visualizing and monitoring biological processes in living organisms. A key component of these imaging techniques is the use of fluorescent dyes that can selectively target and label specific tissues or cell types. This review provides an overview of the current state of tissue-seeking dyes for in vivo applications. We discuss the design principles and chemical structures of dyes that have been developed to target various tissues of interest, including tumors, nerves, bones, vasculatures, and other tissues. The review covers the photophysical properties, targeting mechanisms, and in vivo performance of these dyes. Particular emphasis is placed on dyes that have demonstrated clinical translation or have high potential for future clinical use. The review also examines the challenges and considerations in developing effective tissue-seeking dyes, such as achieving high specificity, overcoming biological barriers and minimizing toxicity. Finally, we highlight emerging trends and future directions in the field, including the integration of tissue-seeking dyes with advanced imaging modalities and theranostic applications. Overall, this review provides a focused summary of the current landscape of tissue-seeking dyes and their pivotal role in advancing in vivo optical imaging and its biomedical applications.

Smart materials serve as the fundamental cornerstone supporting humanity’s transition into the intelligent era. Smart materials possess the capability to perceive external stimuli and respond accordingly. Light-controlled smart materials (LCSMs) are a significant category that can sense and respond to light stimuli. Light, being a non-invasive, precisely regulated, and remotely controllable source of physical stimulation, makes LCSMs indispensable in certain application scenarios. Recently, the construction of LCSMs using supramolecular strategies has emerged as a significant research focus. Supramolecular assembly, based on noncovalent bonding, offers dynamic, reversible, and biomimetic properties. By integrating supramolecular systems with photoresponsive molecular building blocks, these materials can achieve synergistic and rich intelligent stimulus responses. This review delves into the latest research advancements in LCSMs based on supramolecular strategies. There are four sections in this review. The first section defines LCSMs and outlines their advantages. The second section discusses the design approaches of supramolecular LCSMs. The third section highlights the latest advancements on supramolecular LCSMs over the past 3 years. The fourth section summarizes the current research and provides insights into the future development of this field.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has shown great merits in treating microbial infections due to its absence of bacterial resistance. However, the pronounced hypoxic microenvironment in the bacterial infections limits the therapeutic efficiency of traditional type-II PDT, which is highly dependent on oxygen. Here type-I photosensitizer BTZ_n-Py (n = 8, 20) coordinates with chemical antibacterial agent Ag⁺ to fabricate metallo-supramolecular nanofibers. Under light irradiation, the formed nanofibers could not only generate type-II reactive oxygen species (ROS), ¹O₂, but also produce type-I ROS O₂^•– which addressed the hypoxic issues within infected tissues. Moreover, the acid- and photo-active Ag⁺ release from the nanofibers endowed the metallo-supramolecular nanofibers with controlled release characteristic, which showed good biocompatibility to normal tissues. Owing to controlled Ag⁺ release and photoinduced type-I ROS, the in vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the significantly synergistic antibacterial performance of the metallo-supramolecular fibers against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Organelles are specialized areas where cells perform specific processes necessary for life and actively communicate with each other to keep the whole cell functioning. Disorders of the organelle networks are associated with multiple pathological processes. However, clearly and intuitively visualizing the highly dynamic interactions between ultrafine organelles is challenging. Fluorescence imaging technology provides opportunities due to the distinct advantages of facile, noninvasiveness and dynamic detection, making it particularly well-suited for applications in uncovering the mysterious veil of organelle interactions. Regrettably, the lack of ideal fluorescence agents has always been an obstacle in imaging the intricate behaviors of organelles. In this review, we provide a systematic discussion on the existing dual-color and dual-targetable molecular sensors used in monitoring organelle interactions, with a specific focus on their targeting strategies, imaging mechanisms and biological applications. Additionally, the current limitations and future development directions of dual-targetable probes and dualemissives are briefly discussed. This review aims to provide guidance for researchers to develop more improved probes for studying organelle interactions in the biomedical field.

Photoresponsive smart materials, which exhibit swift or instantaneous responses to external light stimuli, are pivotal for advancing the development of novel smart devices. Among these materials, photoresponsive tetracoordinate arylboron compounds emerge as prominent molecular systems, owing to their captivating photochemical mechanisms and photophysical transformations. In recent years, these molecules have experienced notable progress, leading to the emergence of numerous organic boron photoresponsive molecular systems with innovative structures and exceptional performance. In this comprehensive review, we present a thorough examination of the latest advancements in the field, systematically elucidating the design strategies and structure-activity relationships of these molecules. Furthermore, we delve into the photoresponse mechanisms of various molecules and summarize their unique characteristics. Ultimately, we analyze the challenges, opportunities, and prospects encountered in this exciting field of research.

The detection of biothiols such as cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), and glutathione (GSH) are critical for understanding their roles in biology and their involvement in various physiological and pathological processes. Recently, significant progress has been made in constructing fluorescent probes capable of detecting and visualizing biothiols. This review provides an in-depth look at the latest advancements in simultaneous and selective molecular probes, focusing on developments over the last 5 years. We examine design techniques, sensing mechanisms, and imaging methods to assess their effectiveness and responsiveness to thiols. Additionally, we discuss the prevailing challenges and offer recommendations to address them.

Mitochondria are crucial sites for protein quality control within cells. When mitochondrial stress is triggered by protein misfolding, it can accelerate abnormal protein aggregation, potentially inducing various diseases. This study developed a cascade-responsive sensor, named AggHX, to monitor the microenvironment of protein aggregation induced by zinc (II) ions and the accompanying mitochondrial dysfunction. The AggHX consists of two key components: (1) A Zn²⁺ recognition group for triggering a fluorescent enhance response, and (2) a near-infrared BODIPY scaffold that detects viscosity changes in cell aggregation via HaloTag. This sensor’s mechanism of action is elucidated through photochemical and biochemical characterizations. To further investigate the relationship between protein aggregation and mitochondrial homeostasis, we employ fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy to assess viscosity changes in protein aggregates under intracellular Zn²⁺ stress. This research provides insights into the dynamic behavior and spatial distribution of protein aggregates and mitochondria, contributing to a deeper understanding of their physiological roles in cellular processes and potential implications in disease pathology.

Azobenzene and its derivatives are the most extensively investigated and applied molecular photoswitches, which can undergo reversible transformation between trans and cis isomers upon irradiation with light at specific wavelengths. Through structural geometry transformation, the property alterations can be integrated into smart materials to meet diverse application requirements. Most azo-based photoswitches require UV light for activation. However, complete activation within the visible or even near-infrared light range could offer several benefits for photoswitch applications, including improved biocompatibility, better light penetration, and enhanced solar light utilization efficiency. This review presents an overview of the development of visible-light responsive azo-based materials, covering molecular design strategies and their applications in energy storage. Recent efforts aimed at enhancing the performance of azo-based energy storage materials are highlighted. According to the different strategies for improving energy storage properties, these materials are categorized as those that directly increase isomerization energy and those that introduce phase transition energy. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in this field with a view to inspire further exploration.