ABSTRACT
The optical density of pristine graphene is high and broad in the near infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum positioning this material as a highly efficient photothermal agent for in vivo applications. In this study, surfactant assisted exfoliated graphene was incorporated within bulk lipid samples of varying lipid types: glyceryl monoether, glyceryl monooleate and phytantriol. The pristine graphene sheets did not disrupt the packing of the liquid crystals while being in sufficiently intimate contact to provide localized heating and induce phase transitions. The phase progressions induced through heating using NIR irradiation of the entrained graphene particles within the bulk liquid crystal were studied using SAXS and confirmed using polarized optical microscopy. Increases in apparent temperature experienced by the matrix of up to 50 °C were observed by establishing a SAXS versus bulk temperature calibration curve allowing in situ measurements. The studies demonstrate the potential for use of graphene as a photothermal actuator across a range of lipid based systems of interest in controlled drug delivery.
ABSTRACT
Pristine graphene particles prepared using an aqueous phase exfoliation technique have been used to promote the stabilization of emulsions through adsorption at the oil-water interface. Highly localized phase separation of these ultrastable emulsions could, however, be induced through photothermal heating of the graphene particles at the interface exposed to near-infrared light. The graphene wettability, which is a key determinant in preventing droplet coalescence was altered through the adsorption of nonionic block copolymer surfactants. Varying the aqueous solution conditions influenced the hydration of the hydrophilic component of the surfactant providing a further opportunity to alter the overall particle wettability and, hence, stability of the emulsion. In this way, highly stable-oil-in water emulsions were produced with decane; however, water-in-oil emulsions were formed with toluene as the oil phase.
ABSTRACT
Pristine graphene, its derivatives, and composites have been widely reported to possess antibacterial properties. Most of the studies simulating the interaction between bacterial cell membranes and the surface of graphene have proposed that the graphene-induced bacterial cell death is caused either by (1) the insertion of blade-like graphene-based nanosheets or (2) the destructive extraction of lipid molecules by the presence of the lipophilic graphene. These simulation studies have, however, only take into account graphene-cell membrane interactions where the graphene is in a dispersed form. In this paper, we report the antimicrobial behavior of graphene sheet surfaces in an attempt to further advance the current knowledge pertaining to graphene cytotoxicity using both experimental and computer simulation approaches. Graphene nanofilms were fabricated to exhibit different edge lengths and different angles of orientation in the graphene sheets. These substrates were placed in contact with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, where it was seen that these substrates exhibited variable bactericidal efficiency toward these two pathogenic bacteria. It was demonstrated that the density of the edges of the graphene was one of the principal parameters that contributed to the antibacterial behavior of the graphene nanosheet films. The study provides both experimental and theoretical evidence that the antibacterial behavior of graphene nanosheets arises from the formation of pores in the bacterial cell wall, causing a subsequent osmotic imbalance and cell death.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Cell Membrane/drug effects , Graphite/pharmacology , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/drug effects , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects , Bacterial Adhesion/drug effects , Cell Membrane/ultrastructure , Computer Simulation , Microscopy, Atomic Force , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/growth & development , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/ultrastructure , Spectrum Analysis, Raman , Staphylococcus aureus/growth & development , Staphylococcus aureus/ultrastructure , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
Lipid packing is intimately related to the geometry of the lipids and the forces that drive self-assembly. Here, the photothermal response of a cubic liquid-crystalline phase formed using phytantriol in the presence of low concentrations of pristine graphene was evaluated. Small-angle X-ray scattering showed the reversible phase changes from cubic to hexagonal to micellar due to localized heating through irradiation with near-infrared (NIR) light and back to cubic after cooling.
Subject(s)
Graphite/radiation effects , Infrared Rays , Lipids/chemistry , Lipids/radiation effects , Liquid Crystals/chemistry , Liquid Crystals/radiation effects , Phase Transition/radiation effects , Graphite/chemistry , Particle Size , Scattering, Small Angle , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
Single and few layer molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) was exfoliated from the bulk form through a liquid phase exfoliation procedure. Highly concentrated suspensions were prepared that were stabilized against reaggregation through adsorption of nonionic polymers to the sheet surface. These exfoliated particles showed strong photoluminescence at an energy of 1.97 eV which is in the visible-light region. These exfoliated MoS2 sheets were then used to catalyze the degradation of a model dye upon exposure to visible light.
