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A novel quantum-dot-based solar cell assembly consisting of core-shell Zn-doped CuInS2@ZnS (Zn-CIS@ZnS) quantum dots associated with short ZnO (5 μm in length) nanowires was developed and systematically investigated in terms of its nanostructure and optical properties, associated with corresponding solar cell parameters, i.e., VOC, JSC, fill factor (FF). In this investigation, the photo-conversion efficiency of the Zn-CIS-based solar cells without the presence of the ZnS shell can be readily tuned by controlling the Zn/Cu ratio. Furthermore, the efficiency was significantly improved upon the deposition of a thin ZnS shell on these Zn-CIS QDs, where a significant enhancement in short-circuit current density (JSC) by 88% was observed because the ZnS coating is able to effectively eliminate excited electron recombination and enhance the charge transfer efficiency from Zn-CIS QDs to ZnO nanowires. Power-conversion efficiency as high as 0.71% can be attained, which is improved more than 2–3 times compared with that without ZnS coating. Such a unique nanoarchitecture through coupling with both core-shell QDs and short ZnO nanowires suggests a promising design for a quantum dot-based solar cell with considerably improved power-conversion efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A newly-designed drug carrier with enzyme-triggered release behavior and the ability to circumvent multidrug resistance was successfully developed. By optimizing the ratio of lecithin and polysaccharide in reverse micelles, encapsulation efficiency and encapsulation stability can be significantly improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel nano-seaurchin structure is characteristic of high-density and well-dispersed gold nanorods in one mesoporous silica nanobead. This nanoplatform provided increased photothermal stability, stable photoacoustic signal and highly efficient hyperthermia effect both in vitro and in vivo, indicating a powerful theranostic modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pH-responsive multifunctional core-shell nanoparticle, named CHC-PY nanoparticle, was successfully synthesized through electrostatic interaction of a thin shell of fluorescent pyranine dye (PY) with amphiphilic carboxymethylhexanoyl chitosan (CHC) nanoparticles. Upon encapsulating an anticancer drug, camptothecin (CPT), the CHC-PY nanoparticles exhibited an excellent drug loading efficiency (>95%). The resulting CPT-loaded CHC-PY nanoparticles also exhibited efficient cell internalization and good pH-responsive behavior. After being internalized (via efficient endocytosis pathway), the presence of fluorescent PY shell showed a pH-dependent emission characteristic which allowed the internalized CHC-PY nanoparticles acting as an indicator to distinguish the acidic microenvironment of cancerous cells, compared with normal cells. The pH-sensitive PY shell also acted as a modulator to control the CPT release wherein a higher release rate was detected at lower pH value, which is essentially a potential therapeutic niche for anticancer purposes. This new type of CHC-PY core-shell nanoparticle provides multiple functionality, where a synergistic performance of nanotherapeutics, imaging and even diagnosis at a cellular resolution can be achieved simultaneously.

Yolk/shell capsules containing a volume/hydrophobicity transformable core and an ultra-thin silica shell have been prepared. When an external magnetic field induced the temperature, the cores exhibit a significant triggering size shrinkage and the diameter decreases more than 10 times, causing solid shells destruction and physical collapse, leading to drug burst release.