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Sethu Madhavan A, Montanez Hernandez LE, Gu ZR, Subramanian S. Effect of graphene on soybean root colonization by Bradyrhizobium strains. PLANT DIRECT 2023; 7:e522. [PMID: 37671087 PMCID: PMC10475502 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Legume crops such as soybean obtain a large portion of their nitrogen nutrition through symbiotic nitrogen fixation by diazotrophic rhizobia bacteria in root nodules. However, nodule occupancy by low-capacity nitrogen-fixing rhizobia can lead to lower-than-optimal levels of nitrogen fixation. Seed/root coating with engineered materials such as graphene-carrying biomolecules that may promote specific attraction/attachment of desirable bacterial strains is a potential strategy that can help overcome this rhizobia competition problem. As a first step towards this goal, we assessed the impact of graphene on soybean and Bradyrhizobium using a set of growth, biochemical, and physiological assays. Three different concentrations of graphene were tested for toxicity in soybean (50, 250, and 1,000 mg/l) and Bradyrhizobia (25, 50, and 100 mg/l). Higher graphene concentrations (250 mg/l and 1,000 mg/l) promoted seed germination but slightly delayed plant development. Spectrometric and microscopy assays for hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion suggested that specific concentrations of graphene led to higher levels of reactive oxygen species in the roots. In agreement, these roots also showed higher activities of antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase. Conversely, no toxic effects were detected on Bradyrhizobia treated with graphene, and neither did they have higher levels of reactive oxygen species. Graphene treatments at 250 mg/l and 1,000 mg/l significantly reduced the number of nodules, but rhizobia infection and the overall nitrogenase activity were not affected. Our results show that graphene can be used as a potential vehicle for seed/root treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athira Sethu Madhavan
- Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant ScienceSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA
| | | | - Zheng Rong Gu
- Department of Agricultural and Biosystems EngineeringSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA
| | - Senthil Subramanian
- Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant ScienceSouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA
- Department of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookingsSouth DakotaUSA
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Stokes K, Sun Y, Passaretti P, White H, Goldberg Oppenheimer P. Optimisation of GraPhage13 macro-dispersibility via understanding the pH-dependent ionisation during self-assembly: towards the manufacture of graphene-based nanodevices. NANOSCALE 2023; 15:13304-13312. [PMID: 37519099 PMCID: PMC10433945 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr00778b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
GraPhage13 aerogels (GPAs) are micro-porous structures generated through the self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO) and M13 bacteriophage. As GPA fabrication involves the aggregation of GO and M13 in aqueous solution, we aim to understand its dispersibility across a wide pH range. Herein, a novel technique has been developed to relate the ionisation of functional groups to the surface charge, offering insights into the conditions required for GPA fabrication and the mechanism behind its self-assembly. The aggregation of GO and M13 was observed between pH 2-6 and exhibited dependence on the surface charge of the resulting aggregate with the M13 bacteriophage identified as the primary factor contributing to this, whilst originating from the ionisation of its functional groups. In contrast, GO exhibited a lesser impact on the surface charge due to the deprotonation of its carboxylic, enolic and phenolic functional groups at pH 6 and above, which falls outside the required pH range for aggregation. These results enhance our understanding of the GPA self-assembly mechanism, the conditions required for their fabrication and the optimal processability, laying the foundation towards its broad range of applications and the subsequent manufacture of graphene-based nanodevices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Stokes
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Yiwei Sun
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Paolo Passaretti
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Henry White
- BAE-Systems, Air Sector, Buckingham House, FPC 267, Filton, Bristol, UK
| | - Pola Goldberg Oppenheimer
- School of Chemical Engineering, Advanced Nanomaterials Structures and Applications Laboratories, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK
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Gabriele F, Palerma M, Ippoliti R, Angelucci F, Pitari G, Ardini M. Recent Advances on Affibody- and DARPin-Conjugated Nanomaterials in Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108680. [PMID: 37240041 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Affibodies and designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) are synthetic proteins originally derived from the Staphylococcus aureus virulence factor protein A and the human ankyrin repeat proteins, respectively. The use of these molecules in healthcare has been recently proposed as they are endowed with biochemical and biophysical features heavily demanded to target and fight diseases, as they have a strong binding affinity, solubility, small size, multiple functionalization sites, biocompatibility, and are easy to produce; furthermore, impressive chemical and thermal stability can be achieved. especially when using affibodies. In this sense, several examples reporting on affibodies and DARPins conjugated to nanomaterials have been published, demonstrating their suitability and feasibility in nanomedicine for cancer therapy. This minireview provides a survey of the most recent studies describing affibody- and DARPin-conjugated zero-dimensional nanomaterials, including inorganic, organic, and biological nanoparticles, nanorods, quantum dots, liposomes, and protein- and DNA-based assemblies for targeted cancer therapy in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Gabriele
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Marta Palerma
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Rodolfo Ippoliti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Francesco Angelucci
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Pitari
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Matteo Ardini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
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Gomaa I, Emam MH, Wassel AR, Ashraf K, Hussan S, Kalil H, Bayachou M, Ibrahim MA. Microspheres with 2D rGO/Alginate Matrix for Unusual Prolonged Release of Cefotaxime. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:1527. [PMID: 37177072 PMCID: PMC10180501 DOI: 10.3390/nano13091527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A synergistic interaction between reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and a biodegradable natural polymer, sodium alginate, was developed to create unique microspheres with protruding spiky features at the surface (spiky microspheres) that act as a super encapsulation and sustained release system for the highly effective antibiotic cefotaxime. Three forms of microspheres, namely alginate (Alg), alginate-cefotaxime (Alg-CTX), and alginate-cefotaxime-reduced graphene (Alg-CTX-rGO) composites, were prepared using calcium chloride as a cross-linking agent. The microspheres were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction to investigate their pores, roughness, surface morphology, functional groups, phase formation, purity, and structural properties. The membrane diffusion method was employed to determine the release profile of Cefotaxime from the fabricated microspheres. The antibacterial activities of CTX solution, Alg microspheres, Alg-CTX microspheres, and Alg-CTX-rGO microspheres were investigated against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) using the agar diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar. The prepared samples exhibited excellent results, suggesting their potential for enhanced antibiotic delivery. The results demonstrated the potential of the microsphere 2D rGO/alginate matrix for enhancing cefotaxime delivery with an unusual, prolonged release profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Gomaa
- Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, Cairo 11837, Egypt
| | - Merna H. Emam
- Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, Cairo 11837, Egypt
| | - Ahmed R. Wassel
- Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt, El-Shorouk City, Suez Desert Road, Cairo 11837, Egypt
- Electron Microscope and Thin Film Department, Physics Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt
| | - Kholoud Ashraf
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11241, Egypt
| | - Sara Hussan
- Biophysics Department, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Haitham Kalil
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
- Chemistry Department, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
| | - Mekki Bayachou
- Chemistry Department, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA
- Department of Inflammation & Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Medhat A. Ibrahim
- Molecular Spectroscopy and Modeling Unit, Spectroscopy Department, National Research Centre, 33 El-Bohouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, Egypt
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Sagadevan S, Rahman MZ, Léonard E, Losic D, Hessel V. Sensor to Electronics Applications of Graphene Oxide through AZO Grafting. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:846. [PMID: 36903724 PMCID: PMC10005793 DOI: 10.3390/nano13050846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Graphene is a two-dimensional (2D) material with a single atomic crystal structure of carbon that has the potential to create next-generation devices for photonic, optoelectronic, thermoelectric, sensing, wearable electronics, etc., owing to its excellent electron mobility, large surface-to-volume ratio, adjustable optics, and high mechanical strength. In contrast, owing to their light-induced conformations, fast response, photochemical stability, and surface-relief structures, azobenzene (AZO) polymers have been used as temperature sensors and photo-switchable molecules and are recognized as excellent candidates for a new generation of light-controllable molecular electronics. They can withstand trans-cis isomerization by conducting light irradiation or heating but have poor photon lifetime and energy density and are prone to agglomeration even at mild doping levels, reducing their optical sensitivity. Graphene derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), are an excellent platform that, combined with AZO-based polymers, could generate a new type of hybrid structure with interesting properties of ordered molecules. AZO derivatives may modify the energy density, optical responsiveness, and photon storage capacity, potentially preventing aggregation and strengthening the AZO complexes. They are potential candidates for sensors, photocatalysts, photodetectors, photocurrent switching, and other optical applications. This review aimed to provide an overview of the recent progress in graphene-related 2D materials (Gr2MS) and AZO polymer AZO-GO/RGO hybrid structures and their synthesis and applications. The review concludes with remarks based on the findings of this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Sagadevan
- Nanotechnology & Catalysis Research Centre, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Md Zillur Rahman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka 1208, Bangladesh
| | - Estelle Léonard
- Research Center Royallieu, TIMR (Integrated Transformations of Renewable Matter), ESCOM, University de Technologie de Compiegne, CS 60 319, CEDEX, 60 203 Compiegne, France
| | - Dusan Losic
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- The ARC Graphene Research Hub, School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Volker Hessel
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Library Rd, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Fata F, Gabriele F, Angelucci F, Ippoliti R, Di Leandro L, Giansanti F, Ardini M. Bio-Tailored Sensing at the Nanoscale: Biochemical Aspects and Applications. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:s23020949. [PMID: 36679744 PMCID: PMC9866807 DOI: 10.3390/s23020949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The demonstration of the first enzyme-based electrode to detect glucose, published in 1967 by S. J. Updike and G. P. Hicks, kicked off huge efforts in building sensors where biomolecules are exploited as native or modified to achieve new or improved sensing performances. In this growing area, bionanotechnology has become prominent in demonstrating how nanomaterials can be tailored into responsive nanostructures using biomolecules and integrated into sensors to detect different analytes, e.g., biomarkers, antibiotics, toxins and organic compounds as well as whole cells and microorganisms with very high sensitivity. Accounting for the natural affinity between biomolecules and almost every type of nanomaterials and taking advantage of well-known crosslinking strategies to stabilize the resulting hybrid nanostructures, biosensors with broad applications and with unprecedented low detection limits have been realized. This review depicts a comprehensive collection of the most recent biochemical and biophysical strategies for building hybrid devices based on bioconjugated nanomaterials and their applications in label-free detection for diagnostics, food and environmental analysis.
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Li J, Liu X, Crook JM, Wallace GG. Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:994776. [DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.994776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue engineered constructs can serve as in vitro models for research and replacement of diseased or damaged tissue. As an emerging technology, 3D bioprinting enables tissue engineering through the ability to arrange biomaterials and cells in pre-ordered structures. Hydrogels, such as alginate (Alg), can be formulated as inks for 3D bioprinting. However, Alg has limited cell affinity and lacks the functional groups needed to promote cell growth. In contrast, graphene oxide (GO) can support numerous cell types and has been purported for use in regeneration of bone, neural and cardiac tissues. Here, GO was incorporated with 2% (w/w) Alg and 3% (w/w) gelatin (Gel) to improve 3D printability for extrusion-based 3D bioprinting at room temperature (RT; 25°C) and provide a 3D cellular support platform. GO was more uniformly distributed in the ink with our developed method over a wide concentration range (0.05%–0.5%, w/w) compared to previously reported GO containing bioink. Cell support was confirmed using adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSCs) either seeded onto 3D printed GO scaffolds or encapsulated within the GO containing ink before direct 3D printing. Added GO was shown to improve cell-affinity of bioinert biomaterials by providing more bioactive moieties on the scaffold surface. 3D cell-laden or cell-seeded constructs showed improved cell viability compared to pristine (without GO) bio-ink-based scaffolds. Our findings support the application of GO for novel bio-ink formulation, with the potential to incorporate other natural and synthetic materials such as chitosan and cellulose for advanced in situ biosensing, drug-loading and release, and with the potential for electrical stimulation of cells to further augment cell function.
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