Bacterial inactivation and in situ monitoring of biofilm development on graphene oxide membrane using optical coherence tomography

Advancements in Nanoenabled Membrane Distillation for a Sustainable Water-Energy-Environment Nexus

The emergence of nano innovations in membrane distillation (MD) has garnered increasing scientific interest. This enables the exploration of state-of-the-art nano-enabled MD membranes with desirable properties, which significantly improve the efficiency and reliability of the MD process and open up opportunities for achieving a sustainable water-energy-environment (WEE) nexus. This comprehensive review provides broad coverage and in-depth analysis of recent innovations in nano-enabled MD membranes, focusing on their role in achieving desirable properties, such as strong liquid-repellence, high resistance to scaling, fouling, and wetting, as well as efficient self-heating and self-cleaning functionalities. The recent developments in nano-enhanced photothermal-catalytic applications for water-energy co-generation within a single MD system are also discussed. Furthermore, the bottlenecks are identified that impede the scale-up of nanoenhanced MD membranes and a future roadmap is proposed for their sustainable commercialiation. This holistic overview is expected to inspire future research and development efforts to fully harness the potential of nano-enabled MD membranes to achieve sustainable integration of water, energy, and the environment.

Reverse osmosis membrane functionalized with aminated graphene oxide and polydopamine nanospheres plugging for enhanced NDMA rejection and anti-fouling performance

The use of reverse osmosis (RO) for water reclamation has become an essential part of the water supply owing to the ever-increasing water demand and the utmost performance of the RO membranes. Despite the global RO implementation, its inferior rejection against low molecular weight contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) (i.e., N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)) and propensity to fouling remain bottle-neck thus affecting process robustness for water reuse. This study aims to enhance both the rejection and antifouling properties of the RO membrane. Herein for the first time, we report RO membrane modification using polydopamine nanospheres (PDAns) followed by aminated-graphene oxide (AGO) deposition as an effective approach to overcome these challenges. The modification of the RO membrane using PDAns-AGO resulted in 89.3 ± 2.7% rejection compared to the pristine RO membrane which demonstrated 69.2 ± 2.1% NDMA rejection. This significant improvement can be ascribed to the plugging and shielding of defective areas (formed during interfacial polymerization) of the polyamide layer through active PDAns and AGO layers and to the added sieving mechanism that arose through narrow channels of the AGO owing to its reduction. Moreover, the in-situ and non-destructive fouling monitoring using optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed that the PDAns-AGO coating enhanced both the anti-scaling and anti-biofouling characteristics. The improved hydrophilicity and bactericidal effect together with roughness and surface charge suppression synergistically enhanced anti-fouling properties. This study provides a new direction for safe and cost-effective water reuse practices. The membrane with high selectivity against CECs such as NDMA has the potential to eliminate permeate staging using second pass RO and other advanced oxidation processes which are utilized as a tertiary treatment to make reclaimed water suitable for potable/non-potable application.

A standard 96-well based high throughput microfluidic perfusion biofilm reactor for in situ optical analysis

Biofilm infections represent a major public health threat due to their high tolerance to antimicrobials and the lack of specific anti-biofilm drugs. To develop such drugs, it is crucial to have high-throughput biofilm growth systems that can emulate in vivo conditions without the cost and complexity of animal models. However, no current biofilm reactor can provide in vivo-like conditions in a high throughput standard microtiter format. This paper demonstrates a novel high-throughput (HT) microfluidic perfusion biofilm reactor (HT-μPBR) compatible with a standard 96-well microtiter plate for in situ optical analysis. A snap-on liquid-tight cover for standard microtiter plates was designed and fabricated with fluidic channels to provide closed-loop recirculating perfusion. Our system takes steps toward providing in vivo-like conditions with controlled shear stress and nutrient delivery. We describe the system fabrication and usage in optical analysis of biomass and viability of Escherichia coli (E. coli) biofilms. The HT-μPBR was set to perfuse at 1 mL/min corresponding to an average shear rate of approximately [Formula: see text] on the bottom surface of a single well. Biofilms were detected on well plate bottoms and measured using a fluorescence microscope and plate reader to determine biomass and viability. Samples cultured in the HT-μPBR showed increased biomass while maintaining viability after 24 h. The HT-μPBR can further be combined with HT antibiotic susceptibility testing and additional optical techniques such as time-lapse imaging to improve understanding of the drug reaction mechanism as well as the optimization of drug combinations and delivery profiles.

Review of Antimicrobial Nanocoatings in Medicine and Dentistry: Mechanisms of Action, Biocompatibility Performance, Safety, and Benefits Compared to Antibiotics

This review discusses topics relevant to the development of antimicrobial nanocoatings and nanoscale surface modifications for medical and dental applications. Nanomaterials have unique properties compared to their micro- and macro-scale counterparts and can be used to reduce or inhibit bacterial growth, surface colonization and biofilm development. Generally, nanocoatings exert their antimicrobial effects through biochemical reactions, production of reactive oxygen species or ionic release, while modified nanotopographies create a physically hostile surface for bacteria, killing cells via biomechanical damage. Nanocoatings may consist of metal nanoparticles including silver, copper, gold, zinc, titanium, and aluminum, while nonmetallic compounds used in nanocoatings may be carbon-based in the form of graphene or carbon nanotubes, or composed of silica or chitosan. Surface nanotopography can be modified by the inclusion of nanoprotrusions or black silicon. Two or more nanomaterials can be combined to form nanocomposites with distinct chemical or physical characteristics, allowing combination of different properties such as antimicrobial activity, biocompatibility, strength, and durability. Despite their wide range of applications in medical engineering, questions have been raised regarding potential toxicity and hazards. Current legal frameworks do not effectively regulate antimicrobial nanocoatings in matters of safety, with open questions remaining about risk analysis and occupational exposure limits not considering coating-based approaches. Bacterial resistance to nanomaterials is also a concern, especially where it may affect wider antimicrobial resistance. Nanocoatings have excellent potential for future use, but safe development of antimicrobials requires careful consideration of the "One Health" agenda, appropriate legislation, and risk assessment.

Ionic Strength-Dependent Attachment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 on Graphene Oxide Surfaces

Graphene oxide (GO) is a widely used antimicrobial and antibiofouling material in surface modification. Although the antibacterial mechanisms of GO have been thoroughly elucidated, the dynamics of bacterial attachment on GO surfaces under environmentally relevant conditions remain largely unknown. In this study, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used to examine the dynamic attachment processes of a model organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 onto GO surface under different ionic strengths (1-600 mM NaCl). Our results show the highest bacterial attachment at moderate ionic strengths (200-400 mM). The quantitative model of QCM-D reveals that the enhanced bacterial attachment is attributed to the higher contact area between bacterial cells and GO surface. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) theory and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis were employed to reveal the mechanisms of the bacteria-GO interactions under different ionic strengths. The strong electrostatic and steric repulsion at low ionic strengths (1-100 mM) was found to hinder the bacteria-GO interaction, while the limited polymer bridging caused by the collapse of biopolymer layers reduced cell attachment at a high ionic strength (600 mM). These findings advance our understanding of the ionic strength-dependent bacteria-GO interaction and provide implications to further improve the antibiofouling performance of GO-modified surfaces.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/partially alkylated poly(vinyl imidazole) interpolymer ultrafiltration membranes with intrinsic anti-biofouling and antifouling property for the removal of bacteria

Bacterial contaminated water causes potential health issues. Conventional chlorine treatment has shortcomings of environmental hazards and chlorine adoptability by the bacterial cells. Ultrafiltration membrane can intercept bacterial species from feed water. Membrane having anti-biofouling/antifouling properties is needed for the removal of bacteria from feed water. Herein, interpolymer membranes with inherent antimicrobial activity and fouling release property have been prepared by the blend of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and partially long chain alkylated (C12 chain) poly(vinyl imidazole) copolymer (PVIm-co-PVIm-C12) followed by cross-linking of the remaining VIm groups with an activated di-halide compound. The membranes obtain with copolymers of degree of alkyl substitution (DS_C12) in the range of 0.75-0.85 and amount in the range of 0.9-3.5% w/w in the casting solutions exhibit good antimicrobial activity (>99 % of inhibition) and dynamic anti-biofouling property. The membrane prepared with 0.9% w/w of the copolymer (DS_C12=0.85) shows higher flux recovery ratio (91 % for bacterial filtration and 88 % for protein filtration) compare to a pristine membrane (57 % for bacterial filtration and 58 % for protein filtration). The membrane is able to reject the bacteria completely. Use of small amount of copolymer and facile fabrication of stable anti-biofouling/antifouling membranes show potential for the purification of bacterial contaminated water.

Insight into the effect of calcium on bio-clogging behavior via quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring

Bio-clogging of leachate collection systems has attracted much attention because of its threat to landfill slope stability and landfill landslide events. Calcium in leachate plays a vital role in the formation of bio-clogging. However, the influence of calcium on bio-clogging remains unclear. This study examined the effects of calcium concentration on bio-clogging, including 0, 1.25, 5, 25, and 75 mM CaCl₂ groups. A technique involving quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was applied to evaluate the bacteria adhesion behaviors in real time. The results showed that the presence of Ca²⁺ accelerated the bacterial attachment and increased the viscoelasticity of deposited layers. The deposition mass for 75 mM CaCl₂ was 1442 ± 260 ng/cm², which is 1.5 times that for 1.25 mM CaCl₂. The Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory could explain the bacterial adhesion behaviors in low calcium concentrations (<25 mM). In comparison, the effect of calcium bridge was shown in high calcium concentrations (>25 mM). The development of biofilms was a dynamic process, and the Ca²⁺ concentration was positively related to the amount of biofilm generated. In low CaCl₂ concentration (less than 5 mM) groups, the degree of bio-clogging increased from the exponential growth phase to the decline phase; in contrast, in high CaCl₂ concentration (above 25 mM) groups, the degree of bio-clogging increased and later declined. Therefore, the calcium concentration should be controlled at a low level in leachate to mitigate bio-clogging in LCSs.

2D Material-Based Optical Biosensor: Status and Prospect

The combination of 2D materials and optical biosensors has become a hot research topic in recent years. Graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, black phosphorus, MXenes, and other 2D materials (metal oxides and degenerate semiconductors) have unique optical properties and play a unique role in the detection of different biomolecules. Through the modification of 2D materials, optical biosensor has the advantages that traditional sensors (such as electrical sensing) do not have, and the sensitivity and detection limit are greatly improved. Here, optical biosensors based on different 2D materials are reviewed. First, various detection methods of biomolecules, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and evanescent wave and properties, preparation and integration strategies of 2D material, are introduced in detail. Second, various biosensors based on 2D materials are summarized. Furthermore, the applications of these optical biosensors in biological imaging, food safety, pollution prevention/control, and biological medicine are discussed. Finally, the future development of optical biosensors is prospected. It is believed that with their in-depth research in the laboratory, optical biosensors will gradually become commercialized and improve people's quality of life in many aspects.

Modification strategies of membranes with enhanced Anti-biofouling properties for wastewater Treatment: A review

This review addresses composite membranes used for wastewater treatment, focusing heavily on the anti-biofouling properties of such membranes. Biofouling caused by the development of a thick biofilm on the membrane surface is a major issue that reduces water permeance and reduces its lifetime. Biofilm formation and adhesion are mitigated by modifying membranes with two-dimensional or zero-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterials or their modified substituents. In particular, nanomaterials based on graphene, including graphene oxide and carbon quantum dots, are mainly used as nanofillers in the membrane. Functionalization of the nanofillers with various organic ligands or compositing the nanofiller with other materials, such as silver nanoparticles, enhances the bactericidal ability of composite membranes. Moreover, such membrane modifications reduce biofilm adhesion while increasing water permeance and salt/dye rejection. This review discusses the recent literature on developing graphene oxide-based and carbon quantum dot-based composite membranes for biofouling-resistant wastewater treatment.

Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfur and Sulfur-Selenium Nanoparticles Loaded on Reduced Graphene Oxide and Their Antibacterial Activity against Gram-Positive Pathogens

Resistance to antimicrobial agents in Gram-positive bacteria has become a major concern in the last decade. Recently, nanoparticles (NP) have emerged as a potential solution to antibiotic resistance. We synthesized three reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanoparticles, namely rGO, rGO-S, and rGO-S/Se, and characterized them using X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Raman analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed spherical shape nanometer size S and S/Se NPs on the rGO surface. Antibacterial properties of all three nanomaterials were probed against Gram-positive pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, using turbidometeric and CFU assays. Among the synthesized nanomaterials, rGO-S/Se exhibited relatively strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive microorganism tested in a concentration dependent manner (growth inhibition >90% at 200 μg/mL). Atomic force microscopy of rGO-S/Se treated cells displayed morphological aberrations. Our studies also revealed that rGO composite NPs are able to deposit on the bacterial cell surface, resulting in membrane perturbation and oxidative stress. Taken together, our results suggest a possible three-pronged approach of bacterial cytotoxicity by these graphene-based materials.

Biofilm inhibition and bactericidal activity of NiTi alloy coated with graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles via electrophoretic deposition

Biofilm formation on medical devices can induce complications. Graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles (GO/AgNPs) coated nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloy has been successfully produced. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm effects of a GO/AgNPs coated NiTi alloy prepared by Electrophoretic deposition (EPD). GO/AgNPs were coated on NiTi alloy using various coating times. The surface characteristics of the coated NiTi alloy substrates were investigated and its anti-biofilm and anti-bacterial effect on Streptococcus mutans biofilm were determined by measuring the biofilm mass and the number of viable cells using a crystal violet assay and colony counting assay, respectively. The results showed that although the surface roughness increased in a coating time-dependent manner, there was no positive correlation between the surface roughness and the total biofilm mass. However, increased GO/AgNPs deposition produced by the increased coating time significantly reduced the number of viable bacteria in the biofilm (p < 0.05). Therefore, the GO/AgNPs on NiTi alloy have an antibacterial effect on the S. mutans biofilm. However, the increased surface roughness does not influence total biofilm mass formation (p = 0.993). Modifying the NiTi alloy surface using GO/AgNPs can be a promising coating to reduce the consequences of biofilm formation.

Photocatalytic graphitic carbon nitride-chitosan composites for pathogenic biofilm control under visible light irradiation

Photocatalysis holds promise for inactivating environmental pathogens. Visible-light-responsive composites of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride and chitosan with high reactivity and processability were fabricated, and they can control pathogenic biofilms for environmental, food, biomedical, and building applications. The broad-spectrum biofilm inhibition and eradication of the photocatalytic composites against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, and Escherichia coli O157: H7 under visible light irradiation were demonstrated. Extracellular polymeric substances in Escherichia coli O157: H7 biofilms were most resistant to photocatalytic oxidation, which led to reduced performance for biofilm removal. ¹O₂ produced by the composites was believed to dominate biofilm inactivation. Moreover, the composites exhibited excellent performance for inhibiting biofilm development in urine, highlighting the promise for inactivating environmental biofilms developed from multiple bacterial species. Our study provides fundamental insights into the development of new photocatalytic composites, and elucidates the mechanism of how the photocatalyst reacts with a microbiological system.

Bio-clogging mitigation in the leachate collection system of municipal solid waste landfill using graphene oxide-coated geotextiles

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was coated in geotextiles (GO-GT) to evaluate its potential for bio-clogging mitigation in the leachate collection system (LCS) of a landfill. Results showed that GO coating enhanced the surface hydrophilicity of geotextile. Bacterial experiments revealed that dead cells in the bio-clogging increased to 68.7% with GO-GT, compared to that in the GT (44.0%). After 136 days of operation, the GO-GT reduced the bio-clogging by decreasing the total amount of bacteria and the percentage of living bacteria. The total amount of extracellular polymeric substances in the GO-GT and GT was 22.8 ± 4.4 and 52.8 ± 4.8 mg/g of volatile suspended solids, respectively. Microbial analysis showed that Limnochordia and Symbiobacteriia were the most sensitive groups, with a decreased percentage in the GO-GT. Electrostatic repulsion and surface wrinkling were attributed to the attenuation effect on the GO-GT. These results imply the potential application of GO-coated geotextile for reducing bio-clogging in landfill LCS.

Analyzing scaling behavior of calcium sulfate in membrane distillation via optical coherence tomography

Deepening the understanding of scaling processes would facilitate the improvement of membrane distillation (MD) as a promising technique for sustainable development. This study investigated the scaling of calcium sulfate in MD via an approach based on optical coherence tomography (OCT). The OCT-based characterization enabled an analysis that correlated the flux decline with the morphological evolution of the scaling layer. It was revealed by this analysis that the reduction in the evaporation rate could be dominated by different mechanisms as the crystalline particles grew and deposited on the membrane surface; the striping phenomenon visualized by mapping the local growth rates provided evidence for the hydrodynamic instability induced by the coupled mass and heat transfer in MD. Moreover, the OCT-based characterization was exploited to unravel the interplay between the crystallization and the porous structure by quantifying the membrane deformation as a function of time; the varied precipitation kinetics in the boundary layer was confirmed by comparing the temporal variations in the OCT signals at different depths. All these results shed light on mechanisms underlying complex scaling processes, which are the basis for optimizing the design of MD.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of graphene and its derivatives

Infections resulting from bacteria and biofilms have become a huge problem threatening human health. In recent years, the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of graphene and its derivatives have been extensively studied. However, there continues to be some controversy over whether graphene and its derivatives can resist infection and biofilms. Moreover, the antibacterial mechanism and cytotoxicity of graphene and its derivatives are unclear. In the present review, antibacterial and antibiofilm abilities of graphene and its derivatives in solution, on the surface are reviewed, and their toxicity and possible mechanisms are also reviewed. Furthermore, we propose possible future development directions for graphene and its derivatives in antibacterial and antibiofilm applications.

Graphene Oxide Coatings as Tools to Prevent Microbial Biofilm Formation on Medical Device

The clinical challenge on surface engineering of medical devices to prevent microorganisms adhesion and biofilm formation, has become an essential aspect for medical implants. Antibacterial properties of Graphene Oxide (GO) have been demonstrated across a broad spectrum of bacteria, and the different mechanisms of action with which this nanomaterial interacts with the microbial surface have been elucidated in detail. Innovative protective coatings based on graphene film and hydrogel could represent an innovative solution for the prevention of nosocomial pathogens colonization on implantable device. This brief review mainly focuses on the applications of graphene in nanomedicine with a particular deepening on the antibacterial properties of GO and GO-based nanomaterials. In order to evaluate the possible future applications of GO as an anti-biofilm coating material for medical devices, studies on the ability of graphene coated surface to prevent microbial adhesion are also discussed. A concise review on in vitro toxicity and in vivo safety is also presented.

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Graphene Oxide on Enterococcus faecalis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial properties of graphene oxide (GO) against Enterococcus faecalis in vitro conditions and when used to coat dentin surface to prevent E. faecalis adhesion. The ATCC strain of E. faecalis 29212 has been used to perform a viability test. The pellet was suspended in ultrapure water, NaCl, PBS buffer, CaCl2 and MgCl2, Luria-Bertani broth solutions. The viability was evaluated by the colony forming unit counting method. Atomic force microscopy images and the measure of surface zeta potential variation were analyzed. Dentin discs were covered with a film of GO (n = 15) or were not treated (n = 15). Bacterial suspension was added to each sample of dentine discs and microbial counts were calculated. Statistically significant differences between two groups were assessed by a two-tailed unpaired t-test. Bacteria cell morphology was investigated with scanning electron microscopy. The highest growth inhibition was obtained in ddH2O and CaCl2 solution while, in PBS and NaCl, GO had poor antibacterial efficacy with a growth enhancing effect in the latter. GO on dentin discs demonstrated high antibacterial activity. GO film has demonstrated acceptable adhesion properties to root dentin and a role in the inhibition of bacterial film proliferation and biofilm formation.

Mechano-bactericidal actions of nanostructured surfaces

Antibiotic resistance is a global human health threat, causing routine treatments of bacterial infections to become increasingly difficult. The problem is exacerbated by biofilm formation by bacterial pathogens on the surfaces of indwelling medical and dental devices that facilitate high levels of tolerance to antibiotics. The development of new antibacterial nanostructured surfaces shows excellent prospects for application in medicine as next-generation biomaterials. The physico-mechanical interactions between these nanostructured surfaces and bacteria lead to bacterial killing or prevention of bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation, and thus are promising in circumventing bacterial infections. This Review explores the impact of surface roughness on the nanoscale in preventing bacterial colonization of synthetic materials and categorizes the different mechanisms by which various surface nanopatterns exert the necessary physico-mechanical forces on the bacterial cell membrane that will ultimately result in cell death.

Graphene Surfaces Interaction with Proteins, Bacteria, Mammalian Cells, and Blood Constituents: The Impact of Graphene Platelet Oxidation and Thickness

Graphene-based materials (GBMs) have been increasingly explored for biomedical applications. However, interaction between GBMs-integrating surfaces and bacteria, mammalian cells, and blood components, that is, the major biological systems in our body, is still poorly understood. In this study, we systematically explore the features of GBMs that most strongly impact the interactions of GBMs films with plasma proteins and biological systems. Films produced by vacuum filtration of GBMs with different oxidation degree and thickness depict different surface features: graphene oxide (GO) and few-layer GO (FLGO) films are more oxidized, smoother, and hydrophilic, while reduced GO (rGO) and few-layer graphene (FLG) are less or nonoxidized, rougher, and more hydrophobic. All films promote glutathione oxidation, although in a lower extent by rGO, indicating their potential to induce oxidative stress in biological systems. Human plasma proteins, which mediate most of the biological interactions, adsorb less to oxidized films than to rGO and FLG. Similarly, clinically relevant bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli, adhere less to GO and FLGO films, while rGO and FLG favor bacterial adhesion and viability. Surface features caused by the oxidation degree and thickness of the GBMs powders within the films have less influence toward human foreskin fibroblasts; all materials allow cell adhesion, proliferation and viability up to 14 days, despite less on rGO surfaces. Blood cells adhere to all films, with higher numbers in less or nonoxidized surfaces, despite none having caused hemolysis (<5%). Unlike thickness, oxidation degree of GBMs platelets strongly impact surface morphology/topography/chemistry of the films, consequently affecting protein adsorption and thus bacteria, fibroblasts and blood cells response. Overall, this study provides useful guidelines regarding the choice of the GBMs to use in the development of surfaces for an envisioned application. Oxidized materials appear as the most promising for biomedical applications that require low bacterial adhesion without being cytotoxic to mammalian cells.

Testing Anti-Biofilm Polymeric Surfaces: Where to Start?

Present day awareness of biofilm colonization on polymeric surfaces has prompted the scientific community to develop an ever-increasing number of new materials with anti-biofilm features. However, compared to the large amount of work put into discovering potent biofilm inhibitors, only a small number of papers deal with their validation, a critical step in the translation of research into practical applications. This is due to the lack of standardized testing methods and/or of well-controlled in vivo studies that show biofilm prevention on polymeric surfaces; furthermore, there has been little correlation with the reduced incidence of material deterioration. Here an overview of the most common methods for studying biofilms and for testing the anti-biofilm properties of new surfaces is provided.