Effect of Low-dose Ketamine Infusion on Opioid Consumption in Children Undergoing Open Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of low-dose ketamine infusion on the perioperative consumption of opioids in pediatric open cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A randomized, controlled, double-blinded single-center study was conducted. SETTING: The study took place in a tertiary care children's hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients of both sexes aged 2-12 years who underwent cardiac surgery were included. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the ketamine group received a bolus of 0.3 mg/kg of ketamine before skin incision followed by continuous intraoperative infusion of 0.25 mg/kg/h and postoperative infusion of 0.1 mg/kg/h for 24 h. Patients in the control groups received volumes of normal saline either bolus or continuous infusion like that of the ketamine group. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was the total dose of fentanyl consumed over the first 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were intraoperative fentanyl consumption, time to extubation, modified objective pain score, and incidence of vomiting, pruritus, diplopia, or hallucinations. A total of 80 patients were recruited but the final analysis was done on 35 patients in the ketamine group and 34 in the control group. Fentanyl consumption during surgery and in the first 24 hours postoperatively was significantly lower in the ketamine than the control group. Patients in both the ketamine and control groups had similar times to extubation. Modified objective pain scores were significantly lower in the ketamine group than the control group. None of the patients in either group had diplopia or hallucinations. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose ketamine infusion in children undergoing open cardiac surgery reduced intra- and postoperative opioid consumption and postoperative pain scores. Moreover, ketamine did not cause diplopia or hallucinations.

Expression of Concern: The controlled synthesis and DFT investigation of novel (0D)-(3D) ZnS/SiO2 heterostructures for photocatalytic applications.

Expression of Concern for 'The controlled synthesis and DFT investigation of novel (0D)-(3D) ZnS/SiO2 heterostructures for photocatalytic applications' by Mohamed F. Sanad et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 22352-22364, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA02284A.

[2,1,3]-Benzothiadiazole-Spaced Co-Porphyrin-Based Covalent Organic Frameworks for O2 Reduction.

Designing N-coordinated porous single-atom catalysts (SACs) for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a promising approach to achieve enhanced energy conversion due to maximized atom utilization and higher activity. Here, we report two Co(II)-porphyrin/ [2,1,3]-benzothiadiazole (BTD)-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs; Co@rhm-PorBTD and Co@sql-PorBTD), which are efficient SAC systems for O2 electrocatalysis (ORR). Experimental results demonstrate that these two COFs outperform the mass activity (at 0.85 V) of commercial Pt/C (20%) by 5.8 times (Co@rhm-PorBTD) and 1.3 times (Co@sql-PorBTD), respectively. The specific activities of Co@rhm-PorBTD and Co@sql-PorBTD were found to be 10 times and 2.5 times larger than that of Pt/C, respectively. These COFs also exhibit larger power density and recycling stability in Zn-air batteries compared with a Pt/C-based air cathode. A theoretical analysis demonstrates that the combination of Co-porphyrin with two different BTD ligands affords two crystalline porous electrocatalysts having different d-band center positions, which leads to reactivity differences toward alkaline ORR. The strategy, design, and electrochemical performance of these two COFs offer a pyrolysis-free bottom-up approach that avoids the creation of random atomic sites, significant metal aggregation, or unpredictable structural features.

Platinum-like HER onset in a GNR/MoS2 quantum dot heterostructure through curvature-dependent electron density reconfiguration.

Tailoring the curvature-directed lattice strain in GNRs along with optimal surface anchoring of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) quantum dots (QDs) can lead to a unique heterostructure with Pt-like HER activity (onset potential -60 mV). The curvature-induced electronic charge redistribution at the curved region in the graphene nanoribbons allows a facile GNR-MoS2 interfacial charge transfer in the heterostructure, making the interfacial sulfur (S) more active towards the HER. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed electronically activated interfacial S-based catalytic centers in the curved GNR-based heterostructure leading to Pt-like HER activity.

Lewis Acid Site Assisted Bifunctional Activity of Tin Doped Gallium Oxide and Its Application in Rechargeable Zn-Air Batteries.

The enhanced safety, superior energy, and power density of rechargeable metal-air batteries make them ideal energy storage systems for application in energy grids and electric vehicles. However, the absence of a cost-effective and stable bifunctional catalyst that can replace expensive platinum (Pt)-based catalyst to promote oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the air cathode hinders their broader adaptation. Here, it is demonstrated that Tin (Sn) doped ß-gallium oxide (ß-Ga2 O3 ) in the bulk form can efficiently catalyze ORR and OER and, hence, be applied as the cathode in Zn-air batteries. The Sn-doped ß-Ga2 O3 sample with 15% Sn (Snx =0.15 -Ga2 O3 ) displayed exceptional catalytic activity for a bulk, non-noble metal-based catalyst. When used as a cathode, the excellent electrocatalytic bifunctional activity of Snx =0.15 -Ga2 O3 leads to a prototype Zn-air battery with a high-power density of 138 mW cm-2 and improved cycling stability compared to devices with benchmark Pt-based cathode. The combined experimental and theoretical exploration revealed that the Lewis acid sites in ß-Ga2 O3 aid in regulating the electron density distribution on the Sn-doped sites, optimize the adsorption energies of reaction intermediates, and facilitate the formation of critical reaction intermediate (O*), leading to enhanced electrocatalytic activity.

Cylindrical C96 Fullertubes: A Highly Active Metal-Free O2 -Reduction Electrocatalyst.

A new isolation protocol was recently reported for highly purified metallic Fullertubes D5h -C90 , D3d -C96 , and D5d -C100, which exhibit unique electronic features. Here, we report the oxygen reduction electrocatalytic behavior of C60 , C70 (spheroidal fullerenes), and C90 , C96 , and C100 (tubular fullerenes) using a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. C96 (a metal-free catalyst) displayed remarkable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, with an onset potential of 0.85 V and a halfway potential of 0.75 V, which are close to the state-of-the-art Pt/C benchmark catalyst values. We achieved an excellent power density of 0.75 W cm-2 using C96 as a modified cathode in a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, comparable to other recently reported efficient metal-free catalysts. Combined band structure (experimentally calculated) and free-energy (DFT) investigations show that both favorable energy-level alignment active catalytic sites on the carbon cage are responsible for the superior activity of C96 .

Diazonium functionalized fullerenes: a new class of efficient molecular catalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction.

Considerable efforts are being made to find cheaper and more efficient alternatives to the currently commercially available catalysts based on precious metals for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). In this context, fullerenes have started to gain attention due to their suitable electronic properties and relatively easy functionalization. We found that the covalent functionalization of C60, C70 and Sc3N@IhC80 with diazonium salts endows the fullerene cages with ultra-active charge polarization centers, which are located near the carbon-diazonium bond and improve the efficiency towards the molecular generation of hydrogen. To support our findings, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), double layer capacitance (Cdl) and Mott-Schottky approximation were performed. Among all the functionalized fullerenes, DPySc3N@IhC80 exhibited a very low onset potential (-0.025 V vs. RHE) value, which is due to the influence of the inner cluster on the extra improvement of the electronic density states of the catalytic sites. For the first time, the covalent assembly of fullerenes and diazonium groups was used as an electron polarization strategy to build superior molecular HER catalytic systems.

Controlling the Interfacial Charge Polarization of MOF-Derived 0D-2D vdW Architectures as a Unique Strategy for Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysis.

The design of alternative earth-abundant van der Waals (vdW) nanoheterostructures for bifunctional oxygen evolution/reduction (OER/ORR) electrocatalysis is of paramount importance to fabricate energy-related devices. Herein, we report a simple metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived synthetic strategy to fabricate low-dimensional (LD) nanohybrids formed by zero-dimensional (0D) ZrO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and heteroatom-doped two-dimensional (2D) carbon nanostructures. The 2D platforms controlled the electronic structures of interfacial Zr atoms, thus producing optimized electron polarization for boron and nitrogen-doped carbon (BCN)/ZrO2 nanohybrids. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and theoretical studies revealed the key role of the synergistic couple effect of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) in interfacial electronic polarization. The BCN/ZrO2 nanohybrid showed excellent bifunctional electrocatalytic activity, delivering an overpotential (η10) of 301 mV to reach a current density of 10 mA-cm-2 for the OER process and a half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.85 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) for the ORR process, which are comparable to the state-of-the-art LD nanohybrids. Furthermore, BCN/ZrO2 also showed competitive performances for water-splitting and zinc-air battery devices. This work establishes a new route to fabricate highly efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts by tuning the electronic polarization properties of 0D-2D electrochemical interfaces.

Engineering of Electron Affinity and Interfacial Charge Transfer of Graphene for Self-Powered Nonenzymatic Biosensor Applications.

Facile electron transport and intimate electronic contact at the catalyst-electrode interface are critical for the ideal performance of electrochemical devices such as glucose biofuel cells and biosensors. Here, through a comprehensive experimental-theoretical exploration, we demonstrate that engineering of interfacial properties, including interfacial electron dynamics, electron affinity, electrode-catalyst-adsorbate electrical synergy, and electrocatalytically active surface area, can lead to highly efficient graphene-based electrochemical devices. We selected two closely related but electronically and surface chemically different functionalized graphene analogues-graphene acid (GA) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-as the model graphenic platforms. Our studies reveal that compared to rGO, GA is a superior bifunctional catalyst with high oxygen reduction reaction (an onset potential of 0.8 V) and good glucose oxidation activities. Spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis of GA and rGO indicated that the higher carboxylic acid content on GA increases its overall electron affinity and coupled with improved conductivity and band alignment, which leads to GA's better electrochemical performance. The formulation of a heterostructure between GA and samarium oxide (Sm2O3) nanoparticles led to augmented conductivity (lower charge-transfer resistance) and glucose binding affinity, resulting in a further enhanced glucose oxidation activity. The interdimensional Sm2O3/GA heterostructure, leveraging their enhanced glucose oxidation capacity, exhibited excellent nonenzymatic amperometric glucose sensing performance, with a detection limit of 107 nM and a sensitivity of 20.8 µA/µM. Further, a nonenzymatic, membrane-free glucose biofuel cell (with Sm2O3/GA heterostructure as anode and GA as biocathode) produced a power density of 3.2 µW·cm-2 (in PBS spiked with 3 mM glucose), which can function as self-powered glucose sensors with 70 nM limit of detection. The study establishes the potential of interfacial engineering of GA to engage it as a highly tunable substrate for a broad range of electrochemical applications, especially in future self-powered biosensors.

A New Class of Molecular Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen Evolution: Catalytic Activity of M3N@C2n (2n = 68, 78, and 80) Fullerenes.

The electrocatalytic properties of some endohedral fullerenes for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) were recently predicted by DFT calculations. Nonetheless, the experimental catalytic performance under realistic electrochemical environments of these 0D-nanomaterials have not been explored. Here, for the first time, we disclose the HER electrocatalytic behavior of seven M3N@2n (2n = 68, 78, and 80) fullerenes (Gd3N@Ih(7)-C80, Y3N@Ih(7)-C80, Lu3N@Ih(7)-C80, Sc3N@Ih(7)-C80, Sc3N@D5h(6)-C80, Sc3N@D3h(5)-C78, and Sc3N@D3(6140)-C68) using a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques. The non-IPR Sc3N@D3(6140)-C68 compound exhibited the best catalytic performance toward the generation of molecular hydrogen, exhibiting an onset potential of -38 mV vs RHE, a very high mass activity of 1.75 A·mg-1 at -0.4 V vs RHE, and an excellent electrochemical stability, retaining 96% of the initial current after 24 h. The superior performance was explained on the basis of the fused pentagon rings, which represent a new and promising HER catalytic motif.

Co-Cu Bimetallic Metal Organic Framework Catalyst Outperforms the Pt/C Benchmark for Oxygen Reduction.

Platinum (Pt)-based-nanomaterials are currently the most successful catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Nonetheless, Pt catalysts have serious drawbacks, including low abundance in nature, sluggish kinetics, and very high costs, which limit their practical applications. Herein, we report the first rationally designed nonprecious Co-Cu bimetallic metal-organic framework (MOF) using a low-temperature hydrothermal method that outperforms the electrocatalytic activity of Pt/C for ORR in alkaline environments. The MOF catalyst surpassed the ORR performance of Pt/C, exhibiting an onset potential of 1.06 V vs RHE, a half-wave potential of 0.95 V vs RHE, and a higher electrochemical stability (ΔE1/2 = 30 mV) after 1000 ORR cycles in 0.1 M NaOH. Additionally, it outperformed Pt/C in terms of power density and cyclability in zinc-air batteries. This outstanding behavior was attributed to the unique electronic synergy of the Co-Cu bimetallic centers in the MOF network, which was revealed by XPS and PDOS.

Investigating the UV absorption capabilities in novel Ag@RGO/ZnO ternary nanocomposite for optoelectronic devices.

A facile one-pot method was utilized at room-temperature for the synthesis of novel ternary nanocomposite of Ag@RGO/ZnO, which is introduced as a low cost, efficient and reliable UV absorber. The crystalline, morphological, structural, and optical characteristics of the as-synthesized samples were investigated by various techniques such as XRD, FE-SEM, HR-TEM, XPS, and DRS. The measurements confirm the successful fabrication of the Ag@RGO/ZnO ternary nanocomposite. Optical characterization showed the synergetic role of Ag NPs and RGO NSs in the enhancement of the light absorption of the ternary nanocomposite in the UV portion compared to the bare ZnO NPs. Additionally, band-gap narrowing was observed due to the Ag-doping impact where potential applications for the proposed nanocomposite have been suggested.

Tissue paper-derived porous carbon encapsulated transition metal nanoparticles as advanced non-precious catalysts: Carbon-shell influence on the electrocatalytic behaviour.

Porous carbon encapsulated non-precious metal nanocatalysts have recently opened the ways towards the development of high-performance water remediation and energy conversion technologies. Herein, we report a facile, scalable and green synthetic methodology to fabricate porous carbon encapsulated transition metal nanocatalysts (M@TP: M = Cu, Ni, Fe and Co) using commercial tissue paper. The morphology, crystalline structure, chemical composition and textural properties of the M@TP nanocatalysts were thoroughly characterized. The catalytic activity of the M@TP nanocatalysts was investigated for the degradation of Congo red (CR) via peroxymonosulfate activation. Co@TP-6 was found to be the most active catalyst allowing 97.68% degradation in 30 min with a higher rate constant of 0.109 min-1. The nanocatalysts also displayed a carbon shell thickness-dependent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity, most likely due to the shielding effect of the carbon layers over the electron transfer (ET) processes at the metal core/carbon interfaces. Remarkably, the Ni@TP-6 electrocatalyst, with the smaller carbon shell thickness, showed the best electrocatalytic performance. They delivered an ultralow onset potential of -30 mV vs RHE, an overpotential of 105 mV at a current density of 10 mA·cm-2 and an excellent electrochemical stability to keep the 92% of the initial current applied after 25000 s, which is comparable with the HER activity of the state-of-the-art Ni-based catalysts.

The controlled synthesis and DFT investigation of novel (0D)-(3D) ZnS/SiO2 heterostructures for photocatalytic applications.

A ZnS/SiO2 photocatalyst was synthesized using a low-cost sol-gel wet chemical procedure. The as-synthesized ZnS/SiO2 nanocomposites with different molar ratios exhibited superior performance in the photodegradation of two organic dyes under UV irradiation, with complete degradation of both dyes after 2 hours of exposure to UV irradiation. The photocatalyst structure, microstructure, and surface area were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and nitrogen adsorption (S BET) studies. The results demonstrate that the ZnS/SiO2 photocatalyst with 15% ZnS content has a bandgap energy similar to that of ZnS alone with a higher surface area of approximately 150 m2 g-1, which effectively increases the number of active sites and improves the photocatalytic activity of the prepared material. The measured bandgap energies were compared with the theoretical values obtained using the density functional theory (DFT) method, and the values were found to be very similar, with a low error percentage. In the case of a high ZnS content (greater than 15%), active site blocking occurred, and the removal rate dropped below 50%. The obtained results indicate that the photocatalytic data are in good agreement with the experimental characterization results for the prepared materials, including the BET and XRD results, confirming a close association between the photocatalytic activity and the surface area of the fabricated photocatalyst.

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity applications of grafted copolymer alginate-g-poly(N-vinyl imidazole).

N-Vinyl imidazole was grafted onto sodium alginate (PNVI-g-NaAlg) through a free radical polymerization technique in aqueous solution using potassium persulfate (K2S2O8, KPS) initiator material. The conditions of the grafting process onto sodium alginate were adjusted to obtain a grafted copolymer with a high percentage of poly(N-vinyl imidazole). The prepared grafted copolymer sodium alginate (NaAlg-g-PNVI), with high percentage yield, was investigated and characterized under certain conditions in order to detect its antibacterial effect. The prepared grafted copolymer was considered by means of several systems such as Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1H NMR spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The change in the morphology of the alginate distinguished after the grafting process was confirmed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The biological activity of the grafted material was considered using Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gram-negative), Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Candida albicans antifungal activities through the agar diffusion method. The obtained results show excellent improvement in antimicrobial activity of the alginate by grafting against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Candida albicans.

Thermoelectric Energy Harvesters: A Review of Recent Developments in Materials and Devices for Different Potential Applications.

The thermoelectric effect encompasses three different effects, i.e. Seebeck effect, Peltier effect, and Thomson effect, which are considered as thermally activated materials that alter directions in smart materials. It is currently considered one of the most challenging green energy harvesting mechanisms among researchers. The ability to utilize waste thermal energy that is generated by different applications promotes the use of thermoelectric harvesters across a wide range of applications. This review illustrates the different attempts to fabricate efficient, robust and sustainable thermoelectric harvesters, considering the material selection, characterization, device fabrication and potential applications. Thermoelectric harvesters with a wide range of output power generated reaching the milliwatt range have been considered in this work, with a special focus on the main advantages and disadvantages in these devices. Additionally, this review presents various studies reported in the literature on the design and fabrication of thermoelectric harvesters and highlights their potential applications. In order to increase the efficiency of equipment and processes, the generation of thermoelectricity via thermoelectric materials is achieved through the harvesting of residual energy. The review discusses the main challenges in the fabrication process associated with thermoelectric harvester implementation, as well as the considerable advantages of the proposed devices. The use of thermoelectric harvesters in a wide range of applications where waste thermal energy is used and the impact of the thermoelectric harvesters is also highlighted in this review.

Ni-Cu Nanoparticles and Their Feasibility for Magnetic Hyperthermia.

Ni-Cu nanoparticles have been synthesized by reducing Ni and Cu from metal precursors using a sol-gel route followed by annealing at 300 °C for 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, and 10 h for controlled self-regulating magnetic hyperthermia applications. Particle morphology and crystal structure revealed spherical nanoparticles with a cubic structure and an average size of 50, 60, 53, 87, and 87 nm for as-made and annealed samples at 300 °C for 1, 3, 6, and 10 h, respectively. Moreover, hysteresis loops indicated ferromagnetic behavior with saturation magnetization (Ms) ranging from 13-20 emu/g at 300 K. Additionally, Zero-filed cooled and field cooled (ZFC-FC) curves revealed that each sample contains superparamagnetic nanoparticles with a blocking temperature (TB) of 196-260 K. Their potential use for magnetic hyperthermia was tested under the therapeutic limits of an alternating magnetic field. The samples exhibited a heating rate ranging from 0.1 to 1.7 °C/min and a significant dissipated heating power measured as a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 6-80 W/g. The heating curves saturated after reaching the Curie temperature (Tc), ranging from 30-61 °C within the therapeutic temperature limit. An in vitro cytotoxicity test of these Ni-Cu samples in biological tissues was performed via exposing human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells to a gradient of concentrations of the sample with 53 nm particles (annealed at 300 °C for 3 h) and reviewing their cytotoxic effects. For low concentrations, this sample showed no toxic effects to the cells, revealing its biocompatibility to be used in the future for in vitro/in vivo magnetic hyperthermia treatment of cancer.

Proteins-Based Nanocatalysts for Energy Conversion Reactions.

In recent years, the incorporation of molecular enzymes into nanostructured frameworks to create efficient energy conversion biomaterials has gained increasing interest as a promising strategy owing to both the dynamic behavior of proteins for their electrocatalytic function and the unique properties of the synergistic interactions between proteins and nanosized materials. Herein, we review the impact of proteins on energy conversion fields and the contribution of proteins to the improved activity of the resulting nanocomposites. We address different strategies to fabricate protein-based nanocatalysts as well as current knowledge on the structure-function relationships of enzymes during the catalytic processes. Additionally, a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art bioelectrocatalytic materials for water-splitting reactions such as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER) is afforded. Finally, we briefly envision opportunities to develop a new generation of electrocatalysts towards the electrochemical reduction of N2 to NH3 using theoretical tools to built nature-inspired nitrogen reduction reaction catalysts.

The effect of vitality and dentin depth on resin tags length of resin-dentin interface in dogs' teeth.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pulpal pressure and dentin depth on the quality of hybrid layer of bonded composite. Four healthy dogs, aged between 12 and 18 months, with intact dentitions were used for the experimental work. A total of 24 teeth were available for the study by using the six upper anterior teeth of each of the four dogs used in the study. The 24 teeth included in the study were divided according to presence or absence of pulpal pressure (P) into two groups with 12 teeth in each group. P1 teeth with positive pulpal pressure and P2 teeth with no pulpal pressure. Each of these two groups was further divided into two subgroups, according to the cavity depth (D) they received, where in D1 a class V cavity with depth of 1 mm was performed, while in D2 a class V cavity with depth of 2 mm was performed. The cavities were restored with micro hybrid composite restorative material and the samples were then left in the dogs' mouth for 30 days. At the end of the experimental period, the dogs were euthanized by injecting an overdose of thiopental sodium. The anterior part of the upper jaw was sawed out of each dog's mouth and the teeth were sectioned to evaluate the resin-dentin interface using Environmental Scanning Electronic Microscope. Results of the study showed that the mean resin tag length value was significantly affected by vitality and dentin depth. The presence of pulpal pressure together with depth of dentin could adversely affect the quality of hybridization.

A graphene gold nanocomposite-based 5-FU drug and the enhancement of the MCF-7 cell line treatment.

There is no doubt that cancer is now one of the most formidable diseases in the world; despite all the efforts and research, common treatment routes, including chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and photothermal therapy, suffer from different limitations in terms of their efficiency and performance. For this reason, different strategies are being explored to improve the efficiency of the traditional drugs reported to date. In this study, we have redirected the function of one of these drugs (5-fluorouracil, 5-FU) by combining it with a graphene-gold nanocomposite in different molar ratios that has been exceedingly used for biological research development. The high activity of the graphene-gold material enables it to produce reactive oxygen and ions, which display good anticancer and antioxidant activity through the scavenging of the DPPH, SOD and GP x radicals; in addition, different characterizations have been used to confirm the structure and morphology of the obtained samples. Highly potent cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cells was achieved with the drug combination containing the nanocomposite. All the results, including those obtained via cytometry, indicate that the combination of 5% graphene-gold nanocomposites with 5-FU exhibits a higher antitumor impact and more drug stability than pure 5-FU.