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JACS Au Jan 2024Due to boron's unique bonding nature, planar boron materials, including borophenes, boron nanoclusters, and nanoribbons, show very puzzling features, especially the...
Due to boron's unique bonding nature, planar boron materials, including borophenes, boron nanoclusters, and nanoribbons, show very puzzling features, especially the superior stability of the free-standing planar boron edges. Here, we present a systematic investigation of the bonding configurations of various edges of borophene. Because of the flexibility of forming either three-center two-electron (3c-2e) or two-center two-electron bonds (2c-2e), an edge of borophene tends to be self-terminated by adopting a different bonding configuration at the edge from that in bulk. Among various borophene edge types, the double-chain-terminated flat edge is found to be significantly stable. As a consequence, we found that the double- and triple-chain borophene nanoribbons with a triangular lattice and wider ribbons with hexagonal holes in the central area are more stable than the quadruple-chain borophene nanoribbon. This study greatly deepens our understanding of the bonding configurations, electronic properties, and stabilities of planar boron nanostructures and paves the way for the rational design and synthesis of various boron materials.
PubMed: 38274266
DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.3c00555 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2023Here, we present composites and materials that can be prepared starting with boron hydride cluster compounds (decaborane, decahydro--decaborate and... (Review)
Review
Here, we present composites and materials that can be prepared starting with boron hydride cluster compounds (decaborane, decahydro--decaborate and dodecahydro--dodecaborate anions and carboranes). Recent examples of their utilization as boron protective coatings including using them to synthesize boron carbide, boron nitride, metal borides, metal-containing composites, and neutron shielding materials are discussed. The data are generalized demonstrate the versatile application of materials based on boron cluster anions and carboranes in various fields.
PubMed: 37763377
DOI: 10.3390/ma16186099 -
Bioactive Materials Aug 2023Bacterial infection, excessive inflammation and damaging blood vessels network are the major factors to delay the healing of diabetic ulcer. At present, most of wound...
Bacterial infection, excessive inflammation and damaging blood vessels network are the major factors to delay the healing of diabetic ulcer. At present, most of wound repair materials are passive and can't response to the wound microenvironment, resulting in a low utilization of bioactive substances and hence a poor therapeutic effect. Therefore, it's essential to design an intelligent wound dressing responsive to the wound microenvironment to achieve the release of drugs on-demand on the basis of multifunctionality. In this work, metformin-laden CuPDA NPs composite hydrogel (Met@ CuPDA NPs/HG) was fabricated by dynamic phenylborate bonding of gelatin modified by dopamine (Gel-DA), Cu-loaded polydopamine nanoparticles (CuPDA NPs) with hyaluronic acid modified by phenyl boronate acid (HA-PBA), which possessed good injectability, self-healing, adhesive and DPPH scavenging performance. The slow release of metformin was achieved by the interaction with CuPDA NPs, boric groups (B-N coordination) and the constraint of hydrogel network. Metformin had a pH and glucose responsive release behavior to treat different wound microenvironment intelligently. Moreover, CuPDA NPs endowed the hydrogel excellent photothermal responsiveness to kill bacteria of >95% within 10 min and also the slow release of Cu to protect wound from infection for a long time. Met@ CuPDA NPs/HG also recruited cells to a certain direction and promoted vascularization by releasing Cu. More importantly, Met@CuPDA NPs/HG effectively decreased the inflammation by eliminating ROS and inhibiting the activation of NF-κB pathway. Animal experiments demonstrated that Met@CuPDA NPs/HG significantly promoted wound healing of diabetic SD rats by killing bacteria, inhibiting inflammation, improving angiogenesis and accelerating the deposition of ECM and collagen. Therefore, Met@CuPDA NPs/HG had a great application potential for diabetic wound healing.
PubMed: 36950149
DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.03.005 -
Biomolecules Nov 2023BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) derivatives have attracted attention as probes in applications like imaging and sensing due to their unique... (Review)
Review
BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) derivatives have attracted attention as probes in applications like imaging and sensing due to their unique properties like (1) strong absorption and emission in the visible and near-infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, (2) strong fluorescence and (3) supreme photostability. They have also been employed in areas like photodynamic therapy. Over the last decade, BODIPY-based molecules have even emerged as candidates for cancer treatments. Cancer remains a significant health issue world-wide, necessitating a continuing search for novel therapeutic options. BODIPY is a flexible fluorophore with distinct photophysical characteristics and is a fascinating drug development platform. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent breakthroughs in BODIPY-based small molecules for cancer or disease detection and therapy, including their functional potential.
Topics: Boron Compounds; Photochemotherapy; Fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes
PubMed: 38136594
DOI: 10.3390/biom13121723 -
The Science of the Total Environment Oct 2023Boron (B) is released to terrestrial and aquatic environments through both natural and anthropogenic sources. This review describes the current knowledge on B... (Review)
Review
Boron (B) is released to terrestrial and aquatic environments through both natural and anthropogenic sources. This review describes the current knowledge on B contamination in soil and aquatic environments in relation to its geogenic and anthropogenic sources, biogeochemistry, environmental and human health impacts, remediation approaches, and regulatory practices. The common naturally occurring sources of B include borosilicate minerals, volcanic eruptions, geothermal and groundwater streams, and marine water. Boron is extensively used to manufacture fiberglass, thermal-resistant borosilicate glass and porcelain, cleaning detergents, vitreous enamels, weedicides, fertilizers, and B-based steel for nuclear shields. Anthropogenic sources of B released into the environment include wastewater for irrigation, B fertilizer application, and waste from mining and processing industries. Boron is an essential element for plant nutrition and is taken up mainly as boric acid molecules. Although B deficiency in agricultural soils has been observed, B toxicity can inhibit plant growth in soils under arid and semiarid regions. High B intake by humans can be detrimental to the stomach, liver, kidneys and brain, and eventually results in death. Amelioration of soils and water sources enriched with B can be achieved by immobilization, leaching, adsorption, phytoremediation, reverse osmosis, and nanofiltration. The development of cost-effective technologies for B removal from B-rich irrigation water including electrodialysis and electrocoagulation techniques is likely to help control the predominant anthropogenic input of B to the soil. Future research initiatives for the sustainable remediation of B contamination using advanced technologies in soil and water environments are also recommended.
Topics: Humans; Boron; Minerals; Risk Management; Soil; Water
PubMed: 37315601
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164744 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has emerged as an essential material for the encapsulation layer in van der Waals heterostructures and... (Review)
Review
Atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has emerged as an essential material for the encapsulation layer in van der Waals heterostructures and efficient deep ultraviolet optoelectronics. This is primarily due to its remarkable physical properties and ultrawide bandgap (close to 6 eV, and even larger in some cases) properties. Color centers in hBN refer to intrinsic vacancies and extrinsic impurities within the 2D crystal lattice, which result in distinct optical properties in the ultraviolet (UV) to near-infrared (IR) range. Furthermore, each color center in hBN exhibits a unique emission spectrum and possesses various spin properties. These characteristics open up possibilities for the development of next-generation optoelectronics and quantum information applications, including room-temperature single-photon sources and quantum sensors. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the atomic configuration, optical and quantum properties, and different techniques employed for the formation of color centers in hBN. A deep understanding of color centers in hBN allows for advances in the development of next-generation UV optoelectronic applications, solid-state quantum technologies, and nanophotonics by harnessing the exceptional capabilities offered by hBN color centers.
PubMed: 37630929
DOI: 10.3390/nano13162344 -
Biosensors Jun 2023Non-enzymatic sensors with the capability of long-term stability and low cost are promising in glucose monitoring applications. Boronic acid (BA) derivatives offer a... (Review)
Review
Non-enzymatic sensors with the capability of long-term stability and low cost are promising in glucose monitoring applications. Boronic acid (BA) derivatives offer a reversible and covalent binding mechanism for glucose recognition, which enables continuous glucose monitoring and responsive insulin release. To improve selectivity to glucose, a diboronic acid (DBA) structure design has been explored and has become a hot research topic for real-time glucose sensing in recent decades. This paper reviews the glucose recognition mechanism of boronic acids and discusses different glucose sensing strategies based on DBA-derivatives-based sensors reported in the past 10 years. The tunable p, electron-withdrawing properties, and modifiable group of phenylboronic acids were explored to develop various sensing strategies, including optical, electrochemical, and other methods. However, compared to the numerous monoboronic acid molecules and methods developed for glucose monitoring, the diversity of DBA molecules and applied sensing strategies remains limited. The challenges and opportunities are also highlighted for the future of glucose sensing strategies, which need to consider practicability, advanced medical equipment fitment, patient compliance, as well as better selectivity and tolerance to interferences.
Topics: Humans; Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; Blood Glucose; Biosensing Techniques; Glucose
PubMed: 37366983
DOI: 10.3390/bios13060618 -
ACS Polymers Au Feb 2024Carboranes are an important class of electron-delocalized icosahedral carbon-boron clusters with unique physical and chemical properties, which can offer various... (Review)
Review
Carboranes are an important class of electron-delocalized icosahedral carbon-boron clusters with unique physical and chemical properties, which can offer various functions to polymers including enhanced heat-resistance, tuned electronic properties and hydrophobicity, special ability of dihydrogen bond formation, and thermal neutron capture. Carborane-containing polymers have been synthesized mainly by means of step-growth polymerizations of disubstituted carborane monomers, with chain-growth polymerizations of monosubstituted carborane monomers including ATRP, RAFT, and ROMP only utilized recently. Carborane-containing polymers may find application as harsh-environment resistant materials, ceramic precursors, fluorescent materials with tuned emissive properties, novel optoelectronic devices, potential BNCT agents, and drug carriers with low cytotoxicity. This review highlights carborane-containing polymer synthesis strategies and potential applications, showcasing the versatile properties and possibilities that this unique family of boron compounds can provide to the polymeric systems.
PubMed: 38371730
DOI: 10.1021/acspolymersau.3c00030 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2023The review covers more than a century of decaborane chemistry from the first synthesis by Alfred Stock to the present day. The main attention is paid to the reactions of... (Review)
Review
The review covers more than a century of decaborane chemistry from the first synthesis by Alfred Stock to the present day. The main attention is paid to the reactions of the substitution of hydrogen atoms by various atoms and groups with the formation of -polyhedral boron-halogen, boron-oxygen, boron-sulfur, boron-nitrogen, boron-phosphorus, and boron-carbon bonds. Particular attention is paid to the chemistry of -borane -[BH], whose structure is formed by two decaborane moieties with a common edge, the chemistry of which has been intensively developed in the last decade.
PubMed: 37687117
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28176287