Entirely oligosaccharide-based supramolecular amphiphiles were constructed via host–guest interactions between ferrocene-terminated acetylated-maltoheptaose (Fc-AcMH) and β-cyclodextrin-terminated four-arm star maltoheptaose (MH4-β-CD). The amphiphiles could self-assemble to form spherical supramolecular nanoparticles to provide efficient drug delivery platforms. The combination of a pH-sensitive covalent acetal group and the oxidation-sensitive noncovalent host–guest interaction of β-CD and ferrocene provided the obtained fully oligosaccharide-based supramolecular amphiphiles. The structures of these amphiphiles could respond to the intracellular microenvironment.

Superparamagnetic nanocomposite films based on waterborne polyurethane and hollow Ni0.3Zn0.5Fe2O4 nanospheres (WPU/h-NZFO) were synthesized via an in situ polymerization technique. The h-NZFO nanoparticles were functionalized by vinyltriethoxysilane (VTES) to facilitate the dispersion and compatibility with the WPU matrix. The modified h-NZFO (h-NZFO-VTES), combined with the polymers through covalent bonds during the UV-curing process, acted as an effective cross-linker. The morphology, microstructure, thermal behavior, solvent resistance, mechanical and magnetic properties of the WPU/h-NZFO nanocomposites were investigated. It was found that functionalized h-NZFO nanoparticles could largely promote the emulsion stability, thermal stability, solvent resistance, mechanical and magnetic properties of WPU polymers. Importantly, the resulting WPU/h-NZFO films possess superior magnetic (24.2 emu cm−3) and mechanical properties, providing a promising route to prepare environmentally friendly WPU-based nanocomposites with high performance for practical applications, especially in microwave absorption fields.

FexOy@FexOy/C nanoparticles with a soap-bubble-like shell have been synthesized, and the materials exhibit excellent Fenton catalytic performance. More importantly, FexOy@FexOy/C nanoparticles as catalysts and precursors could catalyze organic dye molecules to form iron oxide@organic dye polymer core–shell nanospheres.

Novel core–shell polypyrrole/graphene oxide (PPy–GO) nanomaterials of uniform PPy nanospheres and GO have been synthesized by an in situ surface-initiated polymerization method. The morphology and structure of the core–shell PPy–GO composites were studied by means of techniques. Experimental results showed that PPy nanospheres with small nanospheres of only ∼70 nm were uniformly grown on the GO sheets to form continuous 3D core–shell PPy–GO nanocomposites. The smaller size of PPy can not only be more beneficial to increasing the electrochemical performance, but can also reduce the ion diffusion path and make it a higher material for utilization. Moreover, the well-designed core–shell nanostructure and synergistic effects of PPy–GO composites can clearly lead to high rates of electrode reaction and good electrode/electrolyte contact areas. Meanwhile, its electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests. The specific capacitance of the core–shell PPy–GO nanocomposites can reach up to 370 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 with a large mass loading of 8.0 mg cm−2. It is noteworthy that the cycling stability of the PPy–GO electrode was improved significantly by the core–shell nanostructures, and showed excellent capacitance retention (91.2%) even after 4000 cycles, suggesting its attractive application in supercapacitors with improved performance.

We present a new approach for the fabrication of magnetic thermoresponsive polymer microcapsules with mobile magnetic spherical cores. The microcontainers form fried-egg-like structures with a polymer shell layer of 50 nm due to the existence of hollow cavities. The microcontainers undergo a temperature-induced volume phase transition upon changing the temperature and present an impressive magnetic response. The magnetic saturation of these smart microcontainers (42 emu/g) is high enough to meet most requirements of bioapplications. To further investigate the potential application of these smart microcontainers in biotechnology, Candida rugosa lipase was selected for the enzyme immobilization process. The immobilized lipase exhibited excellent thermal stability and reusability in comparison with the free enzyme. The adsorption/release of the lipase from the microcontainers can be controlled by the environmental temperature and magnetic force, thus, offering new potential applications such as in controlled drug delivery, bioseparation, and catalysis.

FexOy@FexOy/C nanoparticles with a soap-bubble-like shell have been synthesized, and the materials exhibit excellent Fenton catalytic performance. More importantly, FexOy@FexOy/C nanoparticles as catalysts and precursors could catalyze organic dye molecules to form iron oxide@organic dye polymer core–shell nanospheres.