Self-assembled fullerene nanostructures

Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Hydrogels as Scaffolds in Tissue Engineering: A Comprehensive Review

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) are a category of nanomaterials with various systems based on combinations of sp2 and sp3 hybridized carbon bonds, morphologies, and functional groups. CBNs can exhibit distinguished properties such as high mechanical strength, chemical stability, high electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility. These desirable physicochemical properties have triggered their uses in many fields, including biomedical applications. In this review, we specifically focus on applying CBNs as scaffolds in tissue engineering, a therapeutic approach whereby CBNs can act for the regeneration or replacement of damaged tissue. Here, an overview of the structures and properties of different CBNs will first be provided. We will then discuss state-of-the-art advancements of CBNs and hydrogels as scaffolds for regenerating various types of human tissues. Finally, a perspective of future potentials and challenges in this field will be presented. Since this is a very rapidly growing field, we expect that this review will promote interdisciplinary efforts in developing effective tissue regeneration scaffolds for clinical applications.

Synthesis of carbon-based nanomaterials and their application in pollution management

With the fast development of industry, large amounts of organic and inorganic pollutants are inevitably released into the natural environment, which results in the pollution of the environment and are thereby dangerous to human health. The efficient elimination of these pollutants is crucial to environment protection and human health. The high sorption capacity of carbon-based materials and high photocatalytic ability of carbon-based composites result in the application of carbon-based materials in environmental pollution cleanup. In this review article, we summarized recent studies on the synthesis of carbon-based materials, and their application in the sorption of organic and inorganic pollutants, the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, and the in situ photocatalytic reduction-solidification of heavy metal ions. The sorption method is useful to remove pollutants from aqueous solutions. The sorption-photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants is applicable, especially at low concentrations, whereas the catalytic reduction of metal ions is the best method for the in situ immobilization of high valent metal ions under complicated conditions. The interaction mechanism is discussed using advanced spectroscopy analysis and theoretical calculations, and at the end the challenges in the future are described.

Self-assembly of Organic Nanomaterials and Biomaterials: The Bottom-Up Approach for Functional Nanostructures Formation and Advanced Applications

In this paper, we survey recent advances in the self-assembly processes of novel functional platforms for nanomaterials and biomaterials applications. We provide an organized overview, by analyzing the main factors that influence the formation of organic nanostructured systems, while putting into evidence the main challenges, limitations and emerging approaches in the various fields of nanotechology and biotechnology. We outline how the building blocks properties, the mutual and cooperative interactions, as well as the initial spatial configuration (and environment conditions) play a fundamental role in the construction of efficient nanostructured materials with desired functional properties. The insertion of functional endgroups (such as polymers, peptides or DNA) within the nanostructured units has enormously increased the complexity of morphologies and functions that can be designed in the fabrication of bio-inspired materials capable of mimicking biological activity. However, unwanted or uncontrollable effects originating from unexpected thermodynamic perturbations or complex cooperative interactions interfere at the molecular level with the designed assembly process. Correction and harmonization of unwanted processes is one of the major challenges of the next decades and requires a deeper knowledge and understanding of the key factors that drive the formation of nanomaterials. Self-assembly of nanomaterials still remains a central topic of current research located at the interface between material science and engineering, biotechnology and nanomedicine, and it will continue to stimulate the renewed interest of biologist, physicists and materials engineers by combining the principles of molecular self-assembly with the concept of supramolecular chemistry.

Materials nanoarchitectonics at two-dimensional liquid interfaces

Much attention has been paid to the synthesis of low-dimensional materials from small units such as functional molecules. Bottom-up approaches to create new low-dimensional materials with various functional units can be realized with the emerging concept of nanoarchitectonics. In this review article, we overview recent research progresses on materials nanoarchitectonics at two-dimensional liquid interfaces, which are dimensionally restricted media with some freedoms of molecular motion. Specific characteristics of molecular interactions and functions at liquid interfaces are briefly explained in the first parts. The following sections overview several topics on materials nanoarchitectonics at liquid interfaces, such as the preparation of two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks, and the fabrication of low-dimensional and specifically structured nanocarbons and their assemblies at liquid-liquid interfaces. Finally, interfacial nanoarchitectonics of biomaterials including the regulation of orientation and differentiation of living cells are explained. In the recent examples described in this review, various materials such as molecular machines, molecular receptors, block-copolymer, DNA origami, nanocarbon, phages, and stem cells were assembled at liquid interfaces by using various useful techniques. This review overviews techniques such as conventional Langmuir-Blodgett method, vortex Langmuir-Blodgett method, liquid-liquid interfacial precipitation, instructed assembly, and layer-by-layer assembly to give low-dimensional materials including nanowires, nanowhiskers, nanosheets, cubic objects, molecular patterns, supramolecular polymers, metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks. The nanoarchitecture materials can be used for various applications such as molecular recognition, sensors, photodetectors, supercapacitors, supramolecular differentiation, enzyme reactors, cell differentiation control, and hemodialysis.

Controlling the growth of fullerene C60 cones under continuous flow

Micromixing of an o-xylene solution of C60 with N-N-dimethylformamide (DMF) at room temperature under continuous flow in a vortex fluidic device (VFD) results in the formation of symmetrical right cones in high yield with diameters 0.5 to 2.5 μm, pitch angle 25° to 55° and wall thickness 120 to 310 nm. Their formation is in the absence of surfactants and any other reagents, and is scalable. The cones are formed at specific operating parameters of the VFD, including rotational speed, flow rate and concentration, and varying these results in other structures such as grooved fractals. Other aromatic solvents in place of o-xylene results in the formation of rods, spicules and prisms, respectively for m-xylene, p-xylene and mesitylene.

Hierarchical heterostructure of Ag-nanoparticle decorated fullerene nanorods (Ag–FNRs) as an effective single particle freestanding SERS substrate

A hierarchical heterostructure composed of silver nanoparticles on fullerene nanorods functions as SERS substrate for the detection Rhodamine 6G: R6G in nanomolar concentration range.

Fulleropyrrolidines derived from dioxa- and trioxaalkyl-tethered diglycines

The synthesis, characterization, morphological, electrochemical and antioxidant properties of fulleropyrrolidines bridged by polyoxaalkyl chains are described.