Graphene-dendritic polymer hybrids: synthesis, properties, and applications

Morphology and Dynamics in Hydrated Graphene Oxide/Branched Poly(ethyleneimine) Nanocomposites: An In Silico Investigation

Graphene oxide (GO)-branched poly(ethyleneimine) (BPEI) hydrated mixtures were studied by means of fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to assess the effects of the size of polymers and the composition on the morphology of the complexes, the energetics of the systems and the dynamics of water and ions within composites. The presence of cationic polymers of both generations hindered the formation of stacked GO conformations, leading to a disordered porous structure. The smaller polymer was found to be more efficient at separating the GO flakes due to its more efficient packing. The variation in the relative content of the polymeric and the GO moieties provided indications for the existence of an optimal composition in which interaction between the two components was more favorable, implying more stable structures. The large number of hydrogen-bonding donors afforded by the branched molecules resulted in a preferential association with water and hindered its access to the surface of the GO flakes, particularly in polymer-rich systems. The mapping of water translational dynamics revealed the existence of populations with distinctly different mobilities, depending upon the state of their association. The average rate of water transport was found to depend sensitively on the mobility of the freely to move molecules, which was varied strongly with composition. The rate of ionic transport was found to be very limited below a threshold in terms of polymer content. Both, water diffusivity and ionic transport were enhanced in the systems with the larger branched polymers, particularly with a lower polymer content, due to the higher availability of free volume for the respective moieties. The detail afforded in the present work provides a new insight for the fabrication of BPEI/GO composites with a controlled microstructure, enhanced stability and adjustable water transport and ionic mobility.

Graphene-MoS2 polyfunctional hybrid hydrogels for the healing of transected Achilles tendon

Healing of injured tendon is a major clinical challenge in orthopaedic medicine, due to the poor regenerative potential of this tissue. Two-dimensional nanomaterials, as versatile scaffolds, have shown a great potential to support, trigger and accelerate the tendon regeneration. However, weak mechanical properties, poor functionality and low biocompatibility of these scaffolds as well as post-surgery infections are main drawbacks that limit their development in the higher clinical phases. In this work, a series of hydrogels consisting polyglycerol functionalized reduced graphene oxide (PG), polyglycerol-functionalized molybdenum disulfide (PMoS₂) and PG/PMoS₂ hybrid within the gelatin matrix are formulated in new scaffolds and their ability for the healing of injured Achilles tendon, due to their high mechanical properties, low toxicity, cell proliferation enhancement, and antibacterial activities is investigated. While scaffolds containing PG and PMoS₂ showed a moderate tendon regeneration and anti-inflammatory effect, respectively, their hybridization into PG/PMoS₂ demonstrated a synergistic healing efficiency. Along the same line, an accelerated return of tendon function with low peritendinous adhesion and low cross-sectional area in animal group treated with scaffold containing PG/PMoS₂ was observed. Taking advantage of the high biocompatibility, high strength, straightforward construction and fast tendon regeneration, PG/PMoS₂ can be used as a new scaffold for the future tissue engineering.

Functionalized Graphene Platforms for Anticancer Drug Delivery

Two-dimensional nanomaterials are emerging as promising candidates for a wide range of biomedical applications including tissue engineering, biosensing, pathogen incapacitation, wound healing, and gene and drug delivery. Graphene, due to its high surface area, photothermal property, high loading capacity, and efficient cellular uptake, is at the forefront of these materials and plays a key role in this multidisciplinary research field. Poor water dispersibility and low functionality of graphene, however, hamper its hybridization into new nanostructures for future nanomedicine. Functionalization of graphene, either by covalent or non-covalent methods, is the most useful strategy to improve its dispersion in water and functionality as well as processability into new materials and devices. In this review, recent advances in functionalization of graphene derivatives by different (macro)molecules for future biomedical applications are reported and explained. In particular, hydrophilic functionalization of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) to improve their water dispersibility and physicochemical properties is discussed. We have focused on the anticancer drug delivery of polyfunctional graphene sheets.

Covalent Decoration of MoS2 Platforms by Silver Nanoparticles through the Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Reaction

Two-dimensional nanomaterials decorated by metal nanoparticles have gained great interest, due to their potential applications in different areas ranging from electrochemical sensing to photothermal therapy. However, metal nanoparticles that are noncovalently immobilized on the surface of two-dimensional nanomaterials can be dissociated from their surface in the complex mediums. This challenge can be overcome by covalent attachment of nanoparticles to the surface of these platforms. In this work, MoS₂ sheets are decorated by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) reaction. Reactive centers were created on the surface of freshly exfoliated MoS₂ and a two-dimensional platform with the ability of initiating the RAFT reaction was obtained. Afterwards, silver nanoparticles with acrylamide functionality were synthesized and attached on the surface of MoS₂ sheets by the RAFT reaction. MoS₂-AgNPs hybrids were characterized by different spectroscopy and microscopy methods as well as thermal and elemental analyses, and then they were used for the electrochemical determination of dipyridamole in aqueous solution. Taking advantage of the straightforward synthesis and the possible MoS₂-AgNPs distance adjustment, a variety of hybrid systems with unique physicochemical and optoelectronic properties can be constructed by using this method.