Metal-Carbon Interactions on Reduced Graphene Oxide under Facile Thermal Treatment: Microbiological and Cell Assay

N L V Carreño,R Rhodes,C F Correa,C A Mills,F Nedel,S Peralta,S R P Silva,C Ferrúa,F L M Sam,V C Duarte,A M Barbosa

doi:10.1155/2017/6059540

Abstract

Silver-functionalized reduced graphene oxide (Ag-rGO) nanosheets were prepared by single chemical and thermal processes, with very low concentration of silver. The resulting carbon framework consists of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets or 3D networks, decorated with anchored silver nanoparticles. The Ag-rGO nanosheets were dispersed into a polymer matrix and the composites evaluated for use as biological scaffolds. The rGO material in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) has been tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positiveStaphylococcus aureus(S. Aureus) bacteria, after exposure times of 24 and 120 hours, as well as in the determination of cell viability on cultures of fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3). Using 1 mL of Ag-rGO in PDMS the antibacterial effectiveness againstStaphylococcus aureuswas limited, showing an increased amount of Colony Forming Units (CFU), after 24 hours of contact. In the cell viability assay, after 48 hours of contact, the group of 1 mL of Ag-rGO with PDMS was the only group that increased cell viability when compared to the control group. In this context, it is believed these behaviors are due to the increase in cell adhesion capacity promoted by the rGO. Thus, the Ag-rGO/PDMS hybrid nanocomposite films can be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering, as they limit antimicrobial activity.

Highlights

Several studies have been conducted regarding the four basic pillars of tissue engineering [1]
According to X-ray diffraction (Figure 2(a)) the hybrid system increased the fraction of reduced graphene oxide as a function of the thermal treatment of GO and the crystalline size of the Ag nanoparticles
Beyond the limitation of our study, the results indicate that the Ag-reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and PDMS hybrid nanocomposite films can be used as a new composite for tissue engineering

Summary

Introduction

Several studies have been conducted regarding the four basic pillars of tissue engineering (stem cells, growth factors, scaffolds, and angiogenesis) [1]. The impairment of adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of stem cells, as well as adequate toxicity, porosity, and degradability, comprises the limitations and challenges to be overcome in the preparation of scaffolds for tissue engineering [2, 3]. A determined effort has been made to improve materials so they promote cell colonization, proliferation, and differentiation [4]. In this sense, several materials have been examined in a bid to improve scaffold characteristics [5, 6]. It is reasonable to assume that a combination of the two into a GO-nanoparticle composite could create a highly effective, yet ultrathin, antimicrobial coating that can subsequently be applied to any given surface and promote increased surface adhesion

Methods

Results

Conclusion