posted on 2022-01-11, 15:04authored byLei Xie, Miao Yan, Tianyi Liu, Ke Gong, Xin Luo, Beilei Qiu, Jie Zeng, Qirui Liang, Shan Zhou, Yanjun He, Wei Zhang, Yilan Jiang, Yi Yu, Jinyao Tang, Kang Liang, Dongyuan Zhao, Biao Kong
The
rational design and controllable synthesis of hollow nanoparticles
with both a mesoporous shell and an asymmetric architecture are crucially
desired yet still significant challenges. In this work, a kinetics-controlled
interfacial super-assembly strategy is developed, which is capable
of preparing asymmetric porous and hollow carbon (APHC) nanoparticles
through the precise regulation of polymerization and assembly rates
of two kinds of precursors. In this method, Janus resin and silica
hybrid (RSH) nanoparticles are first fabricated through the kinetics-controlled
competitive nucleation and assembly of two precursors. Specifically,
silica nanoparticles are initially formed, and the resin nanoparticles
are subsequently formed on one side of the silica nanoparticles, followed
by the co-assembly of silica and resin on the other side of the silica
nanoparticles. The APHC nanoparticles are finally obtained via high-temperature
carbonization of RSH nanoparticles and elimination of silica. The
erratic asymmetrical, hierarchical porous and hollow structure and
excellent photothermal performance under 980 nm near-infrared (NIR)
light endow the APHC nanoparticles with the ability to serve as fuel-free
nanomotors with NIR-light-driven propulsion. Upon illumination by
NIR light, the photothermal effect of the APHC shell causes both self-thermophoresis
and jet driving forces, which propel the APHC nanomotor. Furthermore,
with the assistance of phase change materials, such APHC nanoparticles
can be employed as smart vehicles that can achieve on-demand release
of drugs with a 980 nm NIR laser. As a proof of concept, we apply
this APHC-based therapeutic system in cancer treatment, which shows
improved anticancer performance due to the synergy of photothermal
therapy and chemotherapy. In brief, this kinetics-controlled approach
may put forward new insight into the design and synthesis of functional
materials with unique structures, properties, and applications by
adjusting the assembly rates of multiple precursors in a reaction
system.