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Carbon- or Graphene-Modified Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2021) | Viewed by 11924

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valentina Palmieri

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Guest Editor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
Interests: graphene oxide; nanoparticles; oncology, 3D printing; antibacterial treatments; quantum dots
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Massimiliano Papi

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Guest Editor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00162 Rome, Italy
Interests: 3D bioprinting; drug delivery; graphene; nanoparticles
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue on “Carbon- or Graphene-Modified Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications” brings together scientists working at universities, research institutes, laboratories, and various industries to discuss state-of-the-art research on nanoparticles obtained from carbon and graphene materials. Carbon nanomaterials hold the promise of revolutionizing the biomedical field with their unique optical, chemical, and biological properties. Applications of carbon and graphene nanoparticles span from medical therapy to bioimaging and theranostics and from gene delivery and antibacterial treatments to incorporation in multi-functional tridimensional materials.

This Special Issue is a timely approach to surveying recent progress in the development and optimization methods of the production of carbon-based nanoparticles without forgetting toxicological concerns and interactions in vivo. The articles presented in this Special Issue will cover various topics, including new methods of synthesis, techniques developed for the characterization of nanoparticles, and safety concerns for both the patient and the environment.

Therefore, this Special Issue welcomes contributions covering, but not limited to, the following topics:

Methods of synthesis, functionalization, and technological advances in the characterization of carbon nanoparticles;
New biomedical applications of carbon nanoparticles;
Toxicological and environmental studies on carbon nanoparticles;
Use of carbon- and graphene-modified nanoparticles embedded in tridimensional composites.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue. Full papers, communications, and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Valentina Palmieri
Prof. Massimiliano Papi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Graphene
Carbon
Nanoparticles
Nanotechnology
Toxicology
Drug delivery
Gene delivery
Imaging
Diagnostics

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 1999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhanced Chemotherapy for Glioblastoma Multiforme Mediated by Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots

by Giordano Perini, Valentina Palmieri, Gabriele Ciasca, Marcello D’Ascenzo, Aniello Primiano, Jacopo Gervasoni, Flavio De Maio, Marco De Spirito and Massimiliano Papi

Materials 2020, 13(18), 4139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma13184139 - 17 Sep 2020

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 2389

Abstract

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and lethal brain cancer. Current treatments involve surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, the life expectancy of patients with this disease remains short and chemotherapy leads to severe adverse effects. Furthermore, the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) makes it difficult for drugs to effectively reach the brain. A promising strategy lies in the use of graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which are light-responsive graphene nanoparticles that have shown the capability of crossing the BBB. Here we investigate the effect of GQDs on U87 human glioblastoma cells and primary cortical neurons. Non-functionalized GQDs (NF-GQDs) demonstrated high biocompatibility, while dimethylformamide-functionalized GQDs (DMF-GQDs) showed a toxic effect on both cell lines. The combination of GQDs and the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin (Dox) was tested. GQDs exerted a synergistic increase in the efficacy of chemotherapy treatment, specifically on U87 cells. The mechanism underlying this synergy was investigated, and it was found that GQDs can alter membrane permeability in a manner dependent on the surface chemistry, facilitating the uptake of Dox inside U87 cells, but not on cortical neurons. Therefore, experimental evidence indicates that GQDs could be used in a combined therapy against brain cancer, strongly increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and, at the same time, reducing its dose requirement along with its side effects, thereby improving the life quality of patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon- or Graphene-Modified Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications)

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Review

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20 pages, 3035 KiB

Open AccessReview

Opportunities Offered by Graphene Nanoparticles for MicroRNAs Delivery for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment

by Benedetta Niccolini, Valentina Palmieri, Marco De Spirito and Massimiliano Papi

Materials 2022, 15(1), 126; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma15010126 - 24 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3688

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the degeneration and death of motor neurons. This neurodegenerative disease leads to muscle atrophy, paralysis, and death due to respiratory failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs) with a length of 19 to 25 nucleotides, participating in the regulation of gene expression. Different studies have demonstrated that miRNAs deregulation is critical for the onset of a considerable number of neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS. Some studies have underlined how miRNAs are deregulated in ALS patients and for this reason, design therapies are used to correct the aberrant expression of miRNAs. With this rationale, delivery systems can be designed to target specific miRNAs. Specifically, these systems can be derived from viral vectors (viral systems) or synthetic or natural materials, including exosomes, lipids, and polymers. Between many materials used for non-viral vectors production, the two-dimensional graphene and its derivatives represent a good alternative for efficiently delivering nucleic acids. The large surface-to-volume ratio and ability to penetrate cell membranes are among the advantages of graphene. This review focuses on the specific pathogenesis of miRNAs in ALS and on graphene delivery systems designed for gene delivery to create a primer for future studies in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon- or Graphene-Modified Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications)

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23 pages, 3220 KiB

Open AccessReview

Graphene/MoS₂ Nanohybrid for Biosensors

by Jinho Yoon, Joungpyo Lim, Minkyu Shin, Sang-Nam Lee and Jeong-Woo Choi

Materials 2021, 14(3), 518; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma14030518 - 21 Jan 2021

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5089

Abstract

Graphene has been studied a lot in different scientific fields because of its unique properties, including its superior conductivity, plasmonic property, and biocompatibility. More recently, transition metal dicharcogenide (TMD) nanomaterials, beyond graphene, have been widely researched due to their exceptional properties. Among the various TMD nanomaterials, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has attracted attention in biological fields due to its excellent biocompatibility and simple steps for synthesis. Accordingly, graphene and MoS₂ have been widely studied to be applied in the development of biosensors. Moreover, nanohybrid materials developed by hybridization of graphene and MoS₂ have a huge potential for developing various types of outstanding biosensors, like electrochemical-, optical-, or surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based biosensors. In this review, we will focus on materials such as graphene and MoS₂. Next, their application will be discussed with regard to the development of highly sensitive biosensors based on graphene, MoS₂, and nanohybrid materials composed of graphene and MoS₂. In conclusion, this review will provide interdisciplinary knowledge about graphene/MoS₂ nanohybrids to be applied to the biomedical field, particularly biosensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon- or Graphene-Modified Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications)

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