Synthetic Sugar-Only Polymers with Double-Shoulder Task: Bioactivity and Imaging

The search for novel fluorescent materials has attracted the attention of many researchers. Numerous bioimaging materials based on the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) units have been surging and could be employed in wide areas during the past two decades. In recent few years, the appearance of nonconventional fluorescence emitters without aromatic conjugated structures provides another bioimaging candidate which has the advantage of enhanced biodegradability and relatively low cost, and their luminescent mechanism can be explained by clustering-triggered emission (CTE) like AIE. In our contribution, we utilize nonaromatic sugar as a monomer to prepare a series of glycopolymers with designed components through sunlight-induced reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization; these glycopolymers can be employed in bioimaging fields due to the bioactivity coming from sugar and CTE capacity

Well-Defined Oligo(azobenzene-<i>graft</i>-mannose): Photostimuli Supramolecular Self-Assembly and Immune Effect Regulation

The immune system can recognize and respond to pathogens of various shapes. Synthetic materials that can change their shape have the potential to be used in vaccines and immune regulation. The ability of supramolecular assemblies to undergo reversible transformations in response to environmental stimuli allows for dynamic changes in their shapes and functionalities. A meticulously designed oligo­(azobenzene-graft-mannose) was synthesized using a stepwise iterative method and “click” chemistry. This involved integrating hydrophobic and photoresponsive azobenzene units with hydrophilic and bioactive mannose units. The resulting oligomer, with its precise structure, displayed versatile assembly morphologies and chiralities that were responsive to light. These varying assembly morphologies demonstrated distinct capabilities in terms of inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells and stimulating the maturation of dendritic cells. These discoveries contribute to the theoretical comprehension and advancement of photoswitchable bioactive materials

High-Efficiency Bactericidal and Biofilm Elimination Ability of the Biodegradable Alternating Sequence Main-Chain Polyselenium Salt

Bacterial drug resistance and biofilm adhesion present substantial challenges for both economic development and human health and safety. Consequently, the development of alternative antibacterial drugs has emerged as a crucial area of research. Main-chain cationic polymers exhibit notable advantages over side-chain cationic polymers in terms of their antibacterial properties, demonstrating efficacy comparable to that of antibiotics. This study presents the first synthesis of main-chain polyselenium salts and explores the impact of hydrophobic side chains, antianions, and hydrophobic structures within the polymer chain on antibacterial activity. These findings offer valuable insights into the development of antibacterial polymers. When optimized, the polyselenium salt exhibited remarkable antibacterial efficacy, with a minimum bactericidal concentration of 0.5 μg/mL while maintaining favorable biocompatibility before and after degradation. Furthermore, the polyselenium salt effectively eradicated the biofilms. The synthesized cationic polymer can undergo gradual degradation in PBS with lipase, reducing environmental contamination and minimizing adverse effects on the human body