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Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 40444

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Special Issue Editor

Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
Interests: nanomaterials; polymers; nanocomposites; inorganic nanoparticles; antibacterial agents; surfactants; interphases
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Research on carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and its derivatives, nanodiamond, fullerenes, and other nano-sized carbon allotropes, has experienced sharp exponential growth over the last years. The infinite possibilities to modify and tailor carbon nanomaterials, is associated with their small size, approaching the size of many fundamental biomolecules; their large specific surface area; high electrical and thermal conductivity; unique optical properties; and superior mechanical properties, have paved the way for a broad range of applications.  In particular, fullerene derivatives have been applied to solar energy scavenging; graphene has been widely used in flexible electronics, carbon nanotubes have been tailored to have molecular recognition capability; carbon or graphene quantum dots have been extensively used for bioimaging and sensing, owing to their photoluminescence properties; and nanodiamonds have been demonstrated to be useful in super-resolution imaging and nanoscale temperature sensing.

This 2.0 Special Issue aims to offer a forum for the publication of original research/review articles regarding carbon-based nanomaterials. It covers all branches and aspects of new processing techniques and testing methods, as well as their applications. Novel surface modifications of carbon nanomaterials to tailor their physico–chemical properties are welcomed. Authors are encouraged to submit their original works stressing the applications of the carbon nanomaterials in a variety of fields, such as electronics, energy storage, biomedicine, sensing, and so forth.

We aim to gather contributions from renowned researchers in the field in order to make this issue a reference for the entire scientific community working on the fundamental and applied research of carbon nanomaterials. We wish this issue to reflect the plethora of carbon nanomaterials and the variety of strategies that have been developed in order to enhance their performance.

Prof. Dr. Ana María Díez-Pascual
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • graphene
  • quantum dots
  • carbon nanotubes
  • fullerenes
  • nanodiamonds
  • biomedical applications
  • sensing applications
  • electronic applications
  • surface functionalization

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

5 pages, 219 KiB  
Editorial
Carbon-Based Nanomaterials
by Ana María Díez-Pascual
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(14), 7726; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22147726 - 20 Jul 2021
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 4496
Abstract
Research on carbon-based nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and its derivatives, nanodiamonds, fullerenes, and other nanosized carbon allotropes, has experienced sharp exponential growth over recent years [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

11 pages, 3136 KiB  
Article
On the Consistency of the Exfoliation Free Energy of Graphenes by Molecular Simulations
by Anastasios Gotzias, Elena Tocci and Andreas Sapalidis
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(15), 8291; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22158291 - 02 Aug 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2023
Abstract
Monolayer graphene is now produced at significant yields, by liquid phase exfoliation of graphites in solvents. This has increased the interest in molecular simulation studies to give new insights in the field. We use decoupling simulations to compute the exfoliation free energy of [...] Read more.
Monolayer graphene is now produced at significant yields, by liquid phase exfoliation of graphites in solvents. This has increased the interest in molecular simulation studies to give new insights in the field. We use decoupling simulations to compute the exfoliation free energy of graphenes in a liquid environment. Starting from a bilayer graphene configuration, we decouple the Van der Waals interactions of a graphene monolayer in the presence of saline water. Then, we introduce the monolayer back into water by coupling its interactions with water molecules and ions. A different approach to compute the graphene exfoliation free energy is to use umbrella sampling. We apply umbrella sampling after pulling the graphene monolayer on the shear direction up to a distance from a bilayer. We show that the decoupling and umbrella methods give highly consistent free energy results for three bilayer graphene samples with different size. This strongly suggests that the systems in both methods remain closely in equilibrium as we move between the states before and after the exfoliation. Therefore, the amount of nonequilibrium work needed to peel the two layers apart is minimized efficiently. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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16 pages, 3448 KiB  
Article
Benefits in the Macrophage Response Due to Graphene Oxide Reduction by Thermal Treatment
by Mónica Cicuéndez, Laura Casarrubios, Nathalie Barroca, Daniela Silva, María José Feito, Rosalía Diez-Orejas, Paula A. A. P. Marques and María Teresa Portolés
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(13), 6701; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22136701 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 1950
Abstract
Graphene and its derivatives are very promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications and are proving to be very useful for the preparation of scaffolds for tissue repair. The response of immune cells to these graphene-based materials (GBM) appears to be critical in promoting regeneration, [...] Read more.
Graphene and its derivatives are very promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications and are proving to be very useful for the preparation of scaffolds for tissue repair. The response of immune cells to these graphene-based materials (GBM) appears to be critical in promoting regeneration, thus, the study of this response is essential before they are used to prepare any type of scaffold. Another relevant factor is the variability of the GBM surface chemistry, namely the type and quantity of oxygen functional groups, which may have an important effect on cell behavior. The response of RAW-264.7 macrophages to graphene oxide (GO) and two types of reduced GO, rGO15 and rGO30, obtained after vacuum-assisted thermal treatment of 15 and 30 min, respectively, was evaluated by analyzing the uptake of these nanostructures, the intracellular content of reactive oxygen species, and specific markers of the proinflammatory M1 phenotype, such as CD80 expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Our results demonstrate that GO reduction resulted in a decrease of both oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokine secretion, significantly improving its biocompatibility and potential for the preparation of 3D scaffolds able of triggering the appropriate immune response for tissue regeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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20 pages, 4531 KiB  
Article
Fluorescence Study of Riboflavin Interactions with Graphene Dispersed in Bioactive Tannic Acid
by María Paz San Andrés, Marina Baños-Cabrera, Lucía Gutiérrez-Fernández, Ana María Díez-Pascual and Soledad Vera-López
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(10), 5270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22105270 - 17 May 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2229
Abstract
The potential of tannic acid (TA) as a dispersing agent for graphene (G) in aqueous solutions and its interaction with riboflavin have been studied under different experimental conditions. TA induces quenching of riboflavin fluorescence, and the effect is stronger with increasing TA concentration, [...] Read more.
The potential of tannic acid (TA) as a dispersing agent for graphene (G) in aqueous solutions and its interaction with riboflavin have been studied under different experimental conditions. TA induces quenching of riboflavin fluorescence, and the effect is stronger with increasing TA concentration, due to π-π interactions through the aromatic rings, and hydrogen bonding interactions between the hydroxyl moieties of both compounds. The influence of TA concentration, the pH, and the G/TA weight ratio on the quenching magnitude, have been studied. At a pH of 4.1, G dispersed in TA hardly influences the riboflavin fluorescence, while at a pH of 7.1, the nanomaterial interacts with riboflavin, causing an additional quenching to that produced by TA. When TA concentration is kept constant, quenching of G on riboflavin fluorescence depends on both the G/TA weight ratio and the TA concentration. The fluorescence attenuation is stronger for dispersions with the lowest G/TA ratios, since TA is the main contributor to the quenching effect. Data obey the Stern–Volmer relationship up to TA 2.0 g L−1 and G 20 mg L−1. Results demonstrate that TA is an effective dispersant for graphene-based nanomaterials in liquid medium and a green alternative to conventional surfactants and synthetic polymers for the determination of biomolecules. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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11 pages, 19364 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Biomechanical Parameters of Muscle Soleus Contraction and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Rat with Chronic Glyphosate Intoxication and Therapeutic Use of C60 Fullerene
by Dmytro Nozdrenko, Olga Abramchuk, Svitlana Prylutska, Oksana Vygovska, Vasil Soroca, Kateryna Bogutska, Sergii Khrapatyi, Yuriy Prylutskyy, Peter Scharff and Uwe Ritter
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4977; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094977 - 07 May 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2172
Abstract
The widespread use of glyphosate as a herbicide in agriculture can lead to the presence of its residues and metabolites in food for human consumption and thus pose a threat to human health. It has been found that glyphosate reduces energy metabolism in [...] Read more.
The widespread use of glyphosate as a herbicide in agriculture can lead to the presence of its residues and metabolites in food for human consumption and thus pose a threat to human health. It has been found that glyphosate reduces energy metabolism in the brain, its amount increases in white muscle fibers. At the same time, the effect of chronic use of glyphosate on the dynamic properties of skeletal muscles remains practically unexplored. The selected biomechanical parameters (the integrated power of muscle contraction, the time of reaching the muscle contraction force its maximum value and the reduction of the force response by 50% and 25% of the initial values during stimulation) of muscle soleus contraction in rats, as well as blood biochemical parameters (the levels of creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, hydrogen peroxide, reduced glutathione and catalase) were analyzed after chronic glyphosate intoxication (oral administration at a dose of 10 μg/kg of animal weight) for 30 days. Water-soluble C60 fullerene, as a poweful antioxidant, was used as a therapeutic nanoagent throughout the entire period of intoxication with the above herbicide (oral administration at doses of 0.5 or 1 mg/kg). The data obtained show that the introduction of C60 fullerene at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg reduces the degree of pathological changes by 40–45%. Increasing the dose of C60 fullerene to 1 mg/kg increases the therapeutic effect by 55–65%, normalizing the studied biomechanical and biochemical parameters. Thus, C60 fullerenes can be effective nanotherapeutics in the treatment of glyphosate-based herbicide poisoning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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20 pages, 3183 KiB  
Article
Detoxification of Ciprofloxacin in an Anaerobic Bioprocess Supplemented with Magnetic Carbon Nanotubes: Contribution of Adsorption and Biodegradation Mechanisms
by Ana R. Silva, Ana J. Cavaleiro, O. Salomé G. P. Soares, Cátia S.N. Braga, Andreia F. Salvador, M. Fernando R. Pereira, M. Madalena Alves and Luciana Pereira
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 2932; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22062932 - 13 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2294
Abstract
In anaerobic bioreactors, the electrons produced during the oxidation of organic matter can potentially be used for the biological reduction of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters. Common electron transfer limitations benefit from the acceleration of reactions through utilization of redox mediators (RM). This work explores [...] Read more.
In anaerobic bioreactors, the electrons produced during the oxidation of organic matter can potentially be used for the biological reduction of pharmaceuticals in wastewaters. Common electron transfer limitations benefit from the acceleration of reactions through utilization of redox mediators (RM). This work explores the potential of carbon nanomaterials (CNM) as RM on the anaerobic removal of ciprofloxacin (CIP). Pristine and tailored carbon nanotubes (CNT) were first tested for chemical reduction of CIP, and pristine CNT was found as the best material, so it was further utilized in biological anaerobic assays with anaerobic granular sludge (GS). In addition, magnetic CNT were prepared and also tested in biological assays, as they are easier to be recovered and reused. In biological tests with CNM, approximately 99% CIP removal was achieved, and the reaction rates increased ≈1.5-fold relatively to the control without CNM. In these experiments, CIP adsorption onto GS and CNM was above 90%. Despite, after applying three successive cycles of CIP addition, the catalytic properties of magnetic CNT were maintained while adsorption decreased to 29 ± 3.2%, as the result of CNM overload by CIP. The results suggest the combined occurrence of different mechanisms for CIP removal: adsorption on GS and/or CNM, and biological reduction or oxidation, which can be accelerated by the presence of CNM. After biological treatment with CNM, toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri was evaluated, resulting in ≈ 46% detoxification of CIP solution, showing the advantages of combining biological treatment with CNM for CIP removal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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22 pages, 6767 KiB  
Article
Graphene Coating Obtained in a Cold-Wall CVD Process on the Co-Cr Alloy (L-605) for Medical Applications
by Łukasz Wasyluk, Vitalii Boiko, Marta Markowska, Mariusz Hasiak, Maria Luisa Saladino, Dariusz Hreniak, Matteo Amati, Luca Gregoratti, Patrick Zeller, Dariusz Biały, Jacek Arkowski and Magdalena Wawrzyńska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 2917; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22062917 - 13 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2215
Abstract
Graphene coating on the cobalt-chromium alloy was optimized and successfully carried out by a cold-wall chemical vapor deposition (CW-CVD) method. A uniform layer of graphene for a large area of the Co-Cr alloy (discs of 10 mm diameter) was confirmed by Raman mapping [...] Read more.
Graphene coating on the cobalt-chromium alloy was optimized and successfully carried out by a cold-wall chemical vapor deposition (CW-CVD) method. A uniform layer of graphene for a large area of the Co-Cr alloy (discs of 10 mm diameter) was confirmed by Raman mapping coated area and analyzing specific G and 2D bands; in particular, the intensity ratio and the number of layers were calculated. The effect of the CW-CVD process on the microstructure and the morphology of the Co-Cr surface was investigated by scanning X-ray photoelectron microscope (SPEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Nanoindentation and scratch tests were performed to determine mechanical properties of Co-Cr disks. The results of microbiological tests indicate that the studied Co-Cr alloys covered with a graphene layer did not show a pro-coagulant effect. The obtained results confirm the possibility of using the developed coating method in medical applications, in particular in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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18 pages, 2445 KiB  
Article
Reduced Graphene Oxides Modulate the Expression of Cell Receptors and Voltage-Dependent Ion Channel Genes of Glioblastoma Multiforme
by Jaroslaw Szczepaniak, Joanna Jagiello, Mateusz Wierzbicki, Dorota Nowak, Anna Sobczyk-Guzenda, Malwina Sosnowska, Slawomir Jaworski, Karolina Daniluk, Maciej Szmidt, Olga Witkowska-Pilaszewicz, Barbara Strojny-Cieslak and Marta Grodzik
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(2), 515; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22020515 - 06 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2928
Abstract
The development of nanotechnology based on graphene and its derivatives has aroused great scientific interest because of their unusual properties. Graphene (GN) and its derivatives, such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO), exhibit antitumor effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro. The antitumor [...] Read more.
The development of nanotechnology based on graphene and its derivatives has aroused great scientific interest because of their unusual properties. Graphene (GN) and its derivatives, such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO), exhibit antitumor effects on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro. The antitumor activity of rGO with different contents of oxygen-containing functional groups and GN was compared. Using FTIR (fourier transform infrared) analysis, the content of individual functional groups (GN/exfoliation (ExF), rGO/thermal (Term), rGO/ammonium thiosulphate (ATS), and rGO/ thiourea dioxide (TUD)) was determined. Cell membrane damage, as well as changes in the cell membrane potential, was analyzed. Additionally, the gene expression of voltage-dependent ion channels (clcn3, clcn6, cacna1b, cacna1d, nalcn, kcne4, kcnj10, and kcnb1) and extracellular receptors was determined. A reduction in the potential of the U87 glioma cell membrane was observed after treatment with rGO/ATS and rGO/TUD flakes. Moreover, it was also demonstrated that major changes in the expression of voltage-dependent ion channel genes were observed in clcn3, nalcn, and kcne4 after treatment with rGO/ATS and rGO/TUD flakes. Furthermore, the GN/ExF, rGO/ATS, and rGO/TUD flakes significantly reduced the expression of extracellular receptors (uPar, CD105) in U87 glioblastoma cells. In conclusion, the cytotoxic mechanism of rGO flakes may depend on the presence and types of oxygen-containing functional groups, which are more abundant in rGO compared to GN. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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12 pages, 2321 KiB  
Article
Towards Performant Design of Carbon-Based Nanomotors for Hydrogen Separation through Molecular Dynamics Simulations
by Sebastian Muraru and Mariana Ionita
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9588; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21249588 - 16 Dec 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1427
Abstract
Clean energy technologies represent a hot topic for research communities worldwide. Hydrogen fuel, a prized alternative to fossil fuels, displays weaknesses such as the poisoning by impurities of the precious metal catalyst which controls the reaction involved in its production. Thus, separating H [...] Read more.
Clean energy technologies represent a hot topic for research communities worldwide. Hydrogen fuel, a prized alternative to fossil fuels, displays weaknesses such as the poisoning by impurities of the precious metal catalyst which controls the reaction involved in its production. Thus, separating H2 out of the other gases, meaning CH4, CO, CO2, N2, and H2O is essential. We present a rotating partially double-walled carbon nanotube membrane design for hydrogen separation and evaluate its performance using molecular dynamics simulations by imposing three discrete angular velocities. We provide a nano-perspective of the gas behaviors inside the membrane and extract key insights from the filtration process, pore placement, flux, and permeance of the membrane. We display a very high selectivity case (ω = 180° ps−1) and show that the outcome of Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations can be both intuitive and counter-intuitive when increasing the ω parameter (ω = 270° ps−1; ω = 360° ps−1). Thus, in the highly selective, ω = 180° ps−1, only H2 molecules and 1–2 H2O molecules pass into the filtrate area. In the ω = 270° ps−1, H2, CO, CH4, N2, and H2O molecules were observed to pass, while, perhaps counter-intuitively, in the third case, with the highest imposed angular velocity of 360° ps−1 only CH4 and H2 molecules were able to pass through the pores leading to the filtrate area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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13 pages, 7664 KiB  
Article
Printed Graphene Layer as a Base for Cell Electrostimulation—Preliminary Results
by Lucja Dybowska-Sarapuk, Weronika Sosnowicz, Jakub Krzeminski, Anna Grzeczkowicz, Ludomira H. Granicka, Andrzej Kotela and Malgorzata Jakubowska
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 7865; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms21217865 - 23 Oct 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2179
Abstract
Nerve regeneration through cell electrostimulation will become a key finding in regenerative medicine. The procedure will provide a wide range of applications, especially in body reconstruction, artificial organs or nerve prostheses. Other than in the case of the conventional polystyrene substrates, the application [...] Read more.
Nerve regeneration through cell electrostimulation will become a key finding in regenerative medicine. The procedure will provide a wide range of applications, especially in body reconstruction, artificial organs or nerve prostheses. Other than in the case of the conventional polystyrene substrates, the application of the current flow in the cell substrate stimulates the cell growth and mobility, supports the synaptogenesis, and increases the average length of neuron nerve fibres. The indirect electrical cell stimulation requires a non-toxic, highly electrically conductive substrate material enabling a precise and effective cell electrostimulation. The process can be successfully performed with the use of the graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs)—the structures of high conductivity and biocompatible with mammalian NE-4C neural stem cells used in the study. One of the complications with the production of inks using GNPs is their agglomeration, which significantly hampers the quality of the produced coatings. Therefore, the selection of the proper amount of the surfactant is paramount to achieve a high-quality substrate. The article presents the results of the research into the material manufacturing used in the cell electrostimulation. The outcomes allow for the establishment of the proper amount of the surfactant to achieve both high conductivity and quality of the coating, which could be used not only in electronics, but also—due to its biocompatibility—fruitfully applied to the cell electrostimulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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Review

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21 pages, 2925 KiB  
Review
Mesoporous Carbon: A Versatile Material for Scientific Applications
by Md. Motiar Rahman, Mst Gulshan Ara, Mohammad Abdul Alim, Md. Sahab Uddin, Agnieszka Najda, Ghadeer M. Albadrani, Amany A. Sayed, Shaker A. Mousa and Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(9), 4498; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22094498 - 26 Apr 2021
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 4988
Abstract
Mesoporous carbon is a promising material having multiple applications. It can act as a catalytic support and can be used in energy storage devices. Moreover, mesoporous carbon controls body’s oral drug delivery system and adsorb poisonous metal from water and various other molecules [...] Read more.
Mesoporous carbon is a promising material having multiple applications. It can act as a catalytic support and can be used in energy storage devices. Moreover, mesoporous carbon controls body’s oral drug delivery system and adsorb poisonous metal from water and various other molecules from an aqueous solution. The accuracy and improved activity of the carbon materials depend on some parameters. The recent breakthrough in the synthesis of mesoporous carbon, with high surface area, large pore-volume, and good thermostability, improves its activity manifold in performing functions. Considering the promising application of mesoporous carbon, it should be broadly illustrated in the literature. This review summarizes the potential application of mesoporous carbon in many scientific disciplines. Moreover, the outlook for further improvement of mesoporous carbon has been demonstrated in detail. Hopefully, it would act as a reference guidebook for researchers about the putative application of mesoporous carbon in multidimensional fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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42 pages, 8306 KiB  
Review
Graphene-Based Sensors for the Detection of Bioactive Compounds: A Review
by Carlos Sainz-Urruela, Soledad Vera-López, María Paz San Andrés and Ana M. Díez-Pascual
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3316; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22073316 - 24 Mar 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4536
Abstract
Over the last years, different nanomaterials have been investigated to design highly selective and sensitive sensors, reaching nano/picomolar concentrations of biomolecules, which is crucial for medical sciences and the healthcare industry in order to assess physiological and metabolic parameters. The discovery of graphene [...] Read more.
Over the last years, different nanomaterials have been investigated to design highly selective and sensitive sensors, reaching nano/picomolar concentrations of biomolecules, which is crucial for medical sciences and the healthcare industry in order to assess physiological and metabolic parameters. The discovery of graphene (G) has unexpectedly impulsed research on developing cost-effective electrode materials owed to its unique physical and chemical properties, including high specific surface area, elevated carrier mobility, exceptional electrical and thermal conductivity, strong stiffness and strength combined with flexibility and optical transparency. G and its derivatives, including graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), are becoming an important class of nanomaterials in the area of optical and electrochemical sensors. The presence of oxygenated functional groups makes GO nanosheets amphiphilic, facilitating chemical functionalization. G-based nanomaterials can be easily combined with different types of inorganic nanoparticles, including metals and metal oxides, quantum dots, organic polymers, and biomolecules, to yield a wide range of nanocomposites with enhanced sensitivity for sensor applications. This review provides an overview of recent research on G-based nanocomposites for the detection of bioactive compounds, providing insights on the unique advantages offered by G and its derivatives. Their synthesis process, functionalization routes, and main properties are summarized, and the main challenges are also discussed. The antioxidants selected for this review are melatonin, gallic acid, tannic acid, resveratrol, oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol, tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and curcumin. They were chosen owed to their beneficial properties for human health, including antibiotic, antiviral, cardiovascular protector, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, neuroprotective, antiageing, antidegenerative, and antiallergic capacity. The sensitivity and selectivity of G-based electrochemical and fluorescent sensors are also examined. Finally, the future outlook for the development of G-based sensors for this type of biocompounds is outlined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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22 pages, 1515 KiB  
Review
Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Versatile Tool for Cancer Therapy
by Banendu Sunder Dash, Gils Jose, Yu-Jen Lu and Jyh-Ping Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(6), 2989; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijms22062989 - 15 Mar 2021
Cited by 78 | Viewed by 5561
Abstract
Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in human history with extremely poor prognosis. Although many traditional therapeutic modalities—such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy—have proved to be successful in inhibiting the growth of tumor cells, their side effects may vastly limited the [...] Read more.
Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in human history with extremely poor prognosis. Although many traditional therapeutic modalities—such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy—have proved to be successful in inhibiting the growth of tumor cells, their side effects may vastly limited the actual benefits and patient acceptance. In this context, a nanomedicine approach for cancer therapy using functionalized nanomaterial has been gaining ground recently. Considering the ability to carry various anticancer drugs and to act as a photothermal agent, the use of carbon-based nanomaterials for cancer therapy has advanced rapidly. Within those nanomaterials, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), a graphene family 2D carbon nanomaterial, emerged as a good candidate for cancer photothermal therapy due to its excellent photothermal conversion in the near infrared range, large specific surface area for drug loading, as well as functional groups for functionalization with molecules such as photosensitizers, siRNA, ligands, etc. By unique design, multifunctional nanosystems could be designed based on rGO, which are endowed with promising temperature/pH-dependent drug/gene delivery abilities for multimodal cancer therapy. This could be further augmented by additional advantages offered by functionalized rGO, such as high biocompatibility, targeted delivery, and enhanced photothermal effects. Herewith, we first provide an overview of the most effective reducing agents for rGO synthesis via chemical reduction. This was followed by in-depth review of application of functionalized rGO in different cancer treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, photothermal therapy and/or photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, chemotherapy/phototherapy, and photothermal/immunotherapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon-Based Nanomaterials 2.0)
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