Controlling the packing arrangements of dyes is a facile way of tuning their photophysical and/or photochemical properties, thus enabling new sensing mechanisms for photofunctional tools. Here, we present a general and robust strategy toward water-stable J-aggregated dye-templated nanoassemblies by incorporating an amphiphilic diblock copolymer and a stimuli-responsive dye as the only two building components. An iodo-substituted boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) was adopted as a template to direct the self-assembly of poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polycaprolactone (PEG−PCL), forming a core−shell nanoplate with slip-stacked BODIPYs as core surrounded by hydrophilic PEG shell. The self-assembled nanoplate is stable in cell culture medium and possesses a built-in stimuli-responsiveness that arises from BODIPY bearing meso-carboxylate protecting group, which is efficiently removed upon treatment with peroxynitrite. The resulting negative charges lead to rearrangement of dyes from J-stacking to nonstacking, which activates photoinduced singlet oxygen production from the nanoassemblies. The stimuli-activatable photosensitivity has been exploited for specific photodynamic ablation of activated RAW 264.7 cells with excessive endogenous peroxynitrite. In light of the generality of the sensing mechanism, the concept described herein will significantly expand the palette of design principles to develop diverse photofunctional tools for biological research and clinical needs.

Sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) have been extensively studied as the potential alternative to lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to the abundant natural reserves and low price of sodium resources. Nevertheless, Na+ ions possess a larger radius than Li+, resulting in slow diffusion dynamics in electrode materials, and thus seeking appropriate anode materials to meet high performance standards has become a trend in the field of SIBs. In this context, owing to the advantages of high theoretical capacity and proper redox potential, metal phosphides (MPs) are considered to be the promising materials to make up for the gap of SIBs anode materials. In this review, the recent development of MPs anode materials for SIBs is reviewed and analyzed comprehensively and deeply, including the synthesis method, advanced modification strategy, electrochemical performance, and Na storage mechanism. In addition, to promote the wide application of the emerging MPs anodes for SIBs, several research emphases in the future are pointed out to overcome challenges toward the commercial application.

A general approach toward highly fluorogenic probes across the visible spectrum for various analytes offers significant potential for engineering a wide range of bioprobes with diverse sensing and imaging functions. Here we show a facile and general strategy that involves introducing a new fluorogenic mechanism in boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes, based on the principle of stimuli-triggered dramatic reduction in the electron-withdrawing capabilities of the meso-substituents of BODIPYs. The fluorogenic mechanism has been demonstrated to be applicable in various BODIPYs with emission maxima ranging from green to far red (509, 585, and 660 nm), and the synthetic strategy allows access to a panel of highly fluorogenic bioprobes for various biomolecules and enzymes (HO, HS, and protease) via introducing specific triggering motifs. The potency of the general design strategy is exemplified by its application to develop a mitochondria-targeting far-red probe capable of imaging of endogenous HO in living cells.

Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a cosmopolitan insect infesting a broad range of commodities, including raw or processed cereal. It has a high fecundity and short generation time, making it a useful tool in testing host-parasitoid hypotheses. The current study examined the interactions between trophic levels during parasitism and host location by Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) within a closed environment by carrying out multiple tests to evaluate the role of refuge and host instar, on the mortality of P. interpunctella and on the emergence of H. hebetor. Results showed that H. hebetor was able to parasitize all instars (first through fourth) of P. interpunctella, but significantly fewer early instars (first through fourth) were parasitized. Parasitized third and fourth instars were more profitable to H. hebetor, irrespective of refuge or choice factors, as significantly more adult parasitoids emerged from third and fourth instars. H. hebetor females consistently showed a preference for fourth instars of P. interpunctella when they were offered a choice between early and late host instars in arenas both with and without a refuge. Generally, parasitization of early instars was higher in no-choice than in choice tests. The behavior of H. hebetor in relation to host choice and its influence on the pest mortality are discussed.