Graphene-Based "Hot Plate" for the Capture and Destruction of the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1.

The study of graphene-based antivirals is still at a nascent stage and the photothermal antiviral properties of graphene have yet to be studied. Here, we design and synthesize sulfonated magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with reduced graphene oxide (SMRGO) to capture and photothermally destroy herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Graphene sheets were uniformly anchored with spherical magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) of varying size between ∼5 and 25 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirmed the sulfonation and anchoring of MNPs on the graphene sheets. Upon irradiation of the composite with near-infrared light (NIR, 808 nm, 7 min), SMRGO (100 ppm) demonstrated superior (∼99.99%) photothermal antiviral activity. This was probably due to the capture efficiency, unique sheet-like structure, high surface area, and excellent photothermal properties of graphene. In addition, electrostatic interactions of MNPs with viral particles appear to play a vital role in the inhibition of viral infection. These results suggest that graphene composites may help to combat viral infections including, but not only, HSV-1.

Antibacterial and In Vivo Studies of a Green, One-Pot Preparation of Copper/Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Bandages.

Simultaneous water and ethanol-based synthesis and coating of copper and zinc oxide (CuO/ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on bandages was carried out by ultrasound irradiation. High resolution-transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the effects of the solvent on the particle size and shape of metal oxide NPs. An antibacterial activity study of metal-oxide-coated bandages was carried out against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative). CuO NP-coated bandages made from both water and ethanol demonstrated complete killing of S. aureus and E. coli bacteria within 30 min., whereas ZnO NP-coated bandages demonstrated five-log reductions in viability for both kinds of bacteria after 60 min of interaction. Further, the antibacterial mechanism of CuO/ZnO NP-coated bandages is proposed here based on electron spin resonance studies. Nanotoxicology investigations were conducted via in vivo examinations of the effect of the metal-oxide bandages on frog embryos (teratogenesis assay-Xenopus). The results show that water-based coatings resulted in lesser impacts on embryo development than the ethanol-based ones. These bandages should therefore be considered safer than the ethanol-based ones. The comparison between the toxicity of the metal oxide NPs prepared in water and ethanol is of great importance, because water will replace ethanol for bulk scale synthesis of metal oxide NPs in commercial companies to avoid further ignition problems. The novelty and importance of this manuscript is avoiding the ethanol in the typical water:ethanol mixture as the solvent for the preparation of metal oxide NPs. Ethanol is ignitable, and commercial companies are trying the evade its use. This is especially important these days, as the face mask produced by sonochemistry (SONOMASK) is being sold all over the world by SONOVIA, and it is coated with ZnO.

Single-walled carbon nanotube coated antibacterial paper: preparation and mechanistic study.

Development of carbon nanotubes toward commercial antibacterial applications warrants the understanding of their interaction mechanism with bacterial cells. The antibacterial activity and mechanism of acid-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (AFSWCNT) coated paper was assessed for gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli models of bacteria. Better activity towards gram-positive bacteria was observed, whereas the presence of an outer membrane makes gram-negative bacteria more resistant to cell membrane damage caused by AFSWCNTs. Based on measured cytoplasmic efflux materials of bacteria, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with electron energy-loss spectroscopy imaging studies, we found that the better antibacterial activity of AFSWCNTs toward gram-positive bacteria is attributed to not only direct physical contact and piercing action, but also molecular-scale interaction with surface functional groups of bacteria. The novel antibacterial mechanism of AFSWCNTs might bring a promising strategy to design new antibacterial materials against drug-resistant bacteria species.

Graphene-based photothermal agent for rapid and effective killing of bacteria.

Conventional antibiotic therapies are becoming less efficient due to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. Development of novel antibacterial material to effectively inhibit or kill bacteria is crucial. A graphene-based photothermal agent, magnetic reduced graphene oxide functionalized with glutaraldehyde (MRGOGA), was synthesized for efficient capture and effective killing of both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) and gram-negative Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) bacteria upon near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. In the present work, we took advantage of the excellent photothermal properties of reduced graphene oxide upon NIR laser irradiation and glutaraldehyde as an efficient capturing agent toward both bacteria. Its magnetic characteristic allows bacteria to be readily trapped in a small volume by the external magnet. The synergetic effects increase the heating extent by MRGOGA upon NIR laser irradiation and the killing of the captured bacteria. The survival rate and membrane integrity assay demonstrate that 80 ppm MRGOGA solution provided rapid and effective killing of up to 99% of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in 10 min upon NIR laser irradiation under batch operation mode. Graphene demonstrated better photothermal antibacterial efficiency than carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, a microfluidic chip system under continuous operation mode demonstrates the reusability of MRGOGA and offers a biocompatible platform for online phothothermal sterilization.