Titelbild: Highly Twisted Conformation Thiopyrylium Photosensitizers for In Vivo Near Infrared‐II Imaging and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus (Angew. Chem. 13/2023)

The resulting NIR-II PS not only enables NIR-II image-guided in vivo pulmonary coronavirus photo-ablation but also demonstrates a facile approach for the development of NIR heavy-atom-free PSs. Keywords: Coronavirus Inactivation;Intersystem Crossing;NIR-II Imaging;Photosensitizer;Triplet State EN Coronavirus Inactivation Intersystem Crossing NIR-II Imaging Photosensitizer Triplet State 1 1 1 03/15/23 20230320 NES 230320 B The relationship b between molecular configuration and charge transfer processes in near-infrared-II (NIR-II) chromophores was studied, and subsequently instructed the engineering of an efficient NIR photosensitizer (PS), as reported by Wenbo Hu, Yuliang Xiao et al. in their Research Article (e202214875). The resulting NIR-II PS not only enables NIR-II image-guided in vivo pulmonary coronavirus photo-ablation but also demonstrates a facile approach for the development of NIR heavy-atom-free PSs. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Angewandte Chemie is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Cover Picture: Highly Twisted Conformation Thiopyrylium Photosensitizers for In Vivo Near Infrared‐II Imaging and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 13/2023)

The resulting NIR-II PS not only enables NIR-II image-guided in vivo pulmonary coronavirus photo-ablation but also demonstrates a facile approach for the development of NIR heavy-atom-free PSs. Keywords: Coronavirus Inactivation;Intersystem Crossing;NIR-II Imaging;Photosensitizer;Triplet State EN Coronavirus Inactivation Intersystem Crossing NIR-II Imaging Photosensitizer Triplet State 1 1 1 03/15/23 20230320 NES 230320 B The relationship b between molecular configuration and charge transfer processes in near-infrared-II (NIR-II) chromophores was studied, and subsequently instructed the engineering of an efficient NIR photosensitizer (PS), as reported by Wenbo Hu, Yuliang Xiao et al. in their Research Article (e202214875). The resulting NIR-II PS not only enables NIR-II image-guided in vivo pulmonary coronavirus photo-ablation but also demonstrates a facile approach for the development of NIR heavy-atom-free PSs. [Extracted from the article] Copyright of Angewandte Chemie International Edition is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Highly Twisted Conformation Thiopyrylium Photosensitizers for In Vivo Near Infrared‐II Imaging and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus

Despite significant effort, a majority of heavy‐atom‐free photosensitizers have short excitation wavelengths, thereby hampering their biomedical applications. Here, we present a facile approach for developing efficient near‐infrared (NIR) heavy‐atom‐free photosensitizers. Based on a series of thiopyrylium‐based NIR‐II (1000–1700 nm) dyads, we found that the star dyad HD with a sterically bulky and electron‐rich moiety exhibited configuration torsion and significantly enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) compared to the parent dyad. The electron excitation characteristics of HD changed from local excitation (LE) to charge transfer (CT)‐domain, contributing to a ≈6‐fold reduction in energy gap (ΔEST), a ≈10‐fold accelerated ISC process, and a ≈31.49‐fold elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantum yield. The optimized SP@HD‐PEG2K lung‐targeting dots enabled real‐time NIR‐II lung imaging, which precisely guided rapid pulmonary coronavirus inactivation.

Highly Twisted Conformation Thiopyrylium Photosensitizers for In Vivo Near Infrared-II Imaging and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus.

Despite significant effort, a majority of heavy-atom-free photosensitizers have short excitation wavelengths, thereby hampering their biomedical applications. Here, we present a facile approach for developing efficient near-infrared (NIR) heavy-atom-free photosensitizers. Based on a series of thiopyrylium-based NIR-II (1000-1700 nm) dyads, we found that the star dyad HD with a sterically bulky and electron-rich moiety exhibited configuration torsion and significantly enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) compared to the parent dyad. The electron excitation characteristics of HD changed from local excitation (LE) to charge transfer (CT)-domain, contributing to a ≈6-fold reduction in energy gap (ΔEST ), a ≈10-fold accelerated ISC process, and a ≈31.49-fold elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) quantum yield. The optimized SP@HD-PEG2K lung-targeting dots enabled real-time NIR-II lung imaging, which precisely guided rapid pulmonary coronavirus inactivation.

Highly Efficient and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus on Non-Metal Hydrophobic Laser-Induced Graphene in Mild Conditions.

The prevalence of COVID-19 has caused global dysfunction in terms of public health, sustainability, and socio-economy. While vaccination shows potential in containing the spread, the development of surfaces that effectively reduces virus transmission and infectivity is also imperative, especially amid the early stage of the pandemic. However, most virucidal surfaces are operated under harsh conditions, making them impractical or potentially unsafe for long-term use. Here, it is reported that laser-induced graphene (LIG) without any metal additives shows marvelous antiviral capacities for coronavirus. Under low solar irradiation, the virucidal efficacy of the hydrophobic LIG (HLIG) against HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E can achieve 97.5% and 95%, respectively. The photothermal effect and the hydrophobicity of the HLIG synergistically contribute to the superior inactivation capacity. The stable antiviral performance of HLIG enables its multiple uses, showing advantages in energy saving and environmental protection. This work discloses a potential method for antiviral applications and has implications for the future development of antiviral materials.

Isoquinolinium-based photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for highly efficient photodynamic combat of viruses

Because of the prevalence of COVID-19, people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of disinfection, which necessitates the development of convenient and efficient methods for inactivating pathogens. In this work, we report the application of three isoquinolinium-based aggregation-induced-emission-active photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of viruses at a low light intensity of 9 mW cm(-2). These three PSs could highly efficiently sensitize the production of reactive oxygen species and are applied to PDI of viruses. Their inactivation effects on viruses are evaluated by checking the cytopathic effect through examining the morphology of their host cells, investigating their protein expression in host cells by Western blot, immunofluorescence imaging of the viral proteins in host cells, quantifying the viral RNA levels after infection, and viral titering-median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50) assay. The experimental results obtained clearly demonstrate the excellent PDI effect of these three PSs on viruses. Besides, we also explore the feasibility of employing these PSs for PDI of viruses on simulated high-touch surfaces, such as stainless steel and glass slides, on which these PSs demonstrate an even better PDI effect on all the three tested viruses. The PDI method described in this work is expected to innovate the disinfection practice in public areas.

Sera Metabolomics Characterization of Patients at Different Stages in Wuhan Identifies Critical Biomarkers of COVID-19.

We have witnessed the 2-year-long global rampage of COVID-19 caused by the wide spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, knowledge about biomarkers of the entire COVID-19 process is limited. Identification of the systemic features of COVID-19 will lead to critical biomarkers and therapeutic targets for early intervention and clinical disease course prediction. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of clinical measurements and serum metabolomics in 199 patients with different stages of COVID-19. In particular, our study is the first serum metabolomic analysis of critical rehabilitation patients and critical death patients. We found many differential metabolites in the comparison of metabolomic results between ordinary, severe, and critical patients and uninfected patients. Through the metabolomic results of COVID-19 patients in various stages, and critical rehabilitation patients and critical death patients, we identified a series of differential metabolites as biomarkers, a separate queue and precise distinction, and predicted COVID-19 verification. These differentially expressed metabolites, included 1,2-di-(9Z,12Z-octadecadienoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphate, propylparaben, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, triethanolamine, chavicol, disialosyl galactosyl globoside, 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol, and alpha-methylstyrene, all of which have been identified for the first time as biomarkers in COVID-19 progression. These biomarkers are involved in many pathological and physiological pathways of COVID-19, for example, immune responses, platelet degranulation, and metabolism which might result in pathogenesis. Our results showed valuable information about metabolites obviously altered in COVID-19 patients with different stages, which could shed light on the pathogenesis as well as serve as potential therapeutic agents of COVID-19.

Molecular Engineering of Laser-Induced Graphene for Potential-Driven Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial and Antiviral Applications.

Worldwide, countless deaths have been caused by the coronavirus disease 2019. In addition to the virus variants, an increasing number of fatal fungal infections have been reported, which further exacerbates the scenario. Therefore, the development of porous surfaces with both antiviral and antimicrobial capacities is of urgent need. Here, a cost-effective, nontoxic, and metal-free strategy is reported for the surface engineering of laser-induced graphene (LIG). The authors covalently engineer the surface potential of the LIG from -14 to ≈+35 mV (LIG+ ), enabling both high-efficiency antimicrobial and antiviral performance under mild conditions. Specifically, several candidate microorganisms of different types, including Escherichia coli, Streptomyces tenebrarius, and Candida albicans, are almost completely inactivated after 10-min solar irradiation. LIG+ also exhibits a strong antiviral effect against human coronaviruses: 99% HCoV-OC43 and 100% HCoV-229E inactivation are achieved after 20-min treatment. Such enhancement may also be observed against other types of pathogens that are heat-sensitive and oppositely charged. Besides, the covalent modification strategy alleviates the leaching problem, and the low cytotoxicity of LIG+ makes it advantageous. This study highlights the synergy of surface potential and photothermal effect in the inactivation of pathogens and it provides a direction for designing porous materials for airborne disease removal and water disinfection.

Photosensitizers: A Membrane-Targeting Photosensitizer with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics for Highly Efficient Photodynamic Combat of Human Coronaviruses (Small 30/2021)

Lianrong Wang, Engui Zhao, Sijie Chen and co-workers (article number 2101770) develop a novel membrane-targeting photosensitizer (DTTPB) with aggregation-induced emission characteristics for efficient photodynamic inactivation of human coronaviruses. DTTPB can bind to the envelope of human coronaviruses and sensitize the production of reactive oxygen species, which can effectively inactivate human coronaviruses upon white-light irradiation.

A Membrane-Targeting Photosensitizer with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics for Highly Efficient Photodynamic Combat of Human Coronaviruses.

COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has resulted in global social and economic disruption, putting the world economy to the largest global recession since the Great Depression. To control the spread of COVID-19, cutting off the transmission route is a critical step. In this work, the efficient inactivation of human coronavirus with photodynamic therapy (PDT) by employing photosensitizers with aggregation-induced emission characteristics (DTTPB) is reported. DTTPB is designed to bear a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails, mimicking the structure of phospholipids on biological membranes. DTTPB demonstrates a broad absorption band covering the whole visible light range and high molar absorptivity, as well as excellent reactive oxygen species sensitizing ability, making it an excellent candidate for PDT. Besides, DTTPB can target membrane structure, and bind to the envelope of human coronaviruses. Upon light irradiation, DTTPB demonstrates highly effective antiviral behavior: human coronavirus treated with DTTPB and white-light irradiation can be efficiently inactivated with complete loss of infectivity, as revealed by the significant decrease of virus RNA and proteins in host cells. Thus, DTTPB sensitized PDT can efficiently prevent the infection and the spread of human coronavirus, which provides a new avenue for photodynamic combating of COVID-19.

Laser-Induced Graphene: Highly Efficient and Rapid Inactivation of Coronavirus on Non-Metal Hydrophobic Laser-Induced Graphene in Mild Conditions (Adv. Funct. Mater. 24/2021)

In article number 2101195 Chao Shen, Ben Zhong Tang, Ruquan Ye, and co-workers report a hydrophobic laser-induced graphene (HLIG) that enables effective inactivation of coronavirus in mild conditions from the synergy of photothermal effect and hydrophobicity. The non-metal HLIG achieves a 97.5% and 95% virucidal efficacy for HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-229E in 15 min under low-grade energy usage. Additionally, the low cytotoxicity and high stability of HLIG further make it a powerful material for disinfection.