Progress on the design of diverse gatekeepers for mesoporous silica nanoparticle based drug delivery systems is summarized.

The first “off–on” and ratiometric fluorescent method based on ICT mechanism for picric acid (PA) recognition in the near infrared region was constructed. Key advantages of the unique molecular architecture can fulfil the ratiometric response to electron-deficient featured PA which inclines to quench fluorescence of all reported sensors for PA.

In aqueous solution, probe 1 selectively reacts with hydrazine (N₂H₄), leading to a 30.5-fold turn-on fluorescence response at 560 nm. Probe 1 can detect hydrazine in both solution and gas state by color changes from readily prepared strips. Furthermore, it was found that probe 1 is able to detect hydrazine in Hela cells.

A dual-channel including a colorimetric and fluorescent probe based on the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) and enzymolysis approach has been presented to screen acid phosphatase (ACP) and its inhibitor. Moreover, the ACP activity was determined by real time assay.

Ternary layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials have shown promising application in hybrid supercapacitors. However, the low electrical conductivity of LDHs is still a restriction to their performance. Herein, carbon nanotubes/cobalt–nickel–iron LDH (CNTs/CoNiFe-LDH) hybrid material was prepared by a one-step hydrothermal approach for the first time. The presence of CNTs improved the conductivity and surface area of the electrode, leading to an enhanced electrochemical performance. The CNTs/CoNiFe-LDH hybrid electrode exhibited high specific capacity 170.6 mAh g⁻¹ at a current density of 1 A g⁻¹, with a capacity retention of 75% at 10 A g⁻¹. CNTs/CoNiFe-LDH//AC asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) was also assembled, which had high specific capacitance (96.1 F g⁻¹ at the current density of 1 A g⁻¹), good cycling stability (85.0% after 3000 cycles at 15 A g⁻¹) and high energy density (29.9 W h kg⁻¹ at the power density of 750.5 W kg⁻¹). Therefore, the CNTs/CoNiFe-LDH material could be used for hybrid supercapacitor electrodes.