Concentration Of Nanosheets Research Articles

Evaluating Optical Properties of Mixed-Phase 2D MoSe2/Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanocomposite Film.

Highly solar light-absorbing poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanocomposite films have garnered wide attention in fields such as flexible optoelectronics, solar energy harvesting, and photothermal therapy. However, fabricating PVA nanocomposite films with a broad spectrum of solar absorption using cost-effective and non-toxic nanofillers remains challenging. Herein, nanocomposite films of PVA incorporating various concentrations of mixed-phase 2D MoSe2 nanosheets (i.e., a combination of the 2H and 1T phase) were prepared using a solution casting technique. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows homogenous dispersion of MoSe2 nanosheets in the PVA matrix even at higher concentrations, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals increasing surface roughness with increasing MoSe2 content, reaching a plateau after 20 wt%. With the increase in the concentration of MoSe2, the nanocomposite films exhibit interesting light absorption characteristics reaching their highest absorption (average 94.9%) at 40 wt% MoSe2. The incorporated mixed-phase MoSe2 nanosheets induce a significant change in the energy levels of the PVA matrix, which is reflected in the reduced optical band gap energy (2.63 eV) at 40 wt% MoSe2 against pure PVA (5.28 eV). The excellent light absorption of PVA nanocomposite films across the entire range from 250 nm to 2500 nm is attributed to the thin 2D structure of MoSe2 and the presence of its mixed phase.

Algorithm for Reproducible Analysis of Semiconducting 2D Nanomaterials Based on UV‐VIS Spectroscopy

AbstractRapid and reliable analysis of liquid dispersions of 2D materials is essential for fully harnessing their potential, allowing size and quality validation before subsequent processing or device fabrication. Existing UV‐VIS extinction spectroscopy‐based metrics, particularly those related to thickness, have shown promise but rely on manual data processing, which can introduce irreproducibility and user errors. To address this challenge and enable uniform analysis across laboratories, a freely available program is developed for the reproducible analysis of nanosheet dispersions. Specifically, a smoothing routine is applied to the spectral data, takes the second derivative, and use integral areas to find the wavelength of exciton transitions. This program enables rapid measurement of nanosheet concentration, length, and thickness by UV‐VIS spectroscopy and thickness metrics are refined for eight common 2D nanomaterials. The program and methodology are freely available for use and allow metrics for new materials to be implemented easily in the future.

Green synthesis of graphene-based derivatives from Ulva lactuca extract: Characterization and biomedical applications

Graphene-based materials have been extensively researched due to its biocompatibility, unique conjugated structure, and relatively low cost in the realm of biology. Graphene is increasingly being explored for many medical uses, including as DNA-hybridization devices, cancer treatment, and medicine administration. Furthermore, it exhibits substantial potential in several fields of biological applications, such as antibacterial interventions, therapy, and biosensing. The synthesis of GO and rGO was achieved in this work for the first-time using macroalgae, Ulva lactuca as a reducing agent. The antibacterial activity of graphene-based derivatives was evaluated against two different human pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial growth inhibition increased in proportion to the higher concentration. Higher concentration of nanosheets could enhance the cellular enzyme activity. Different scavenging assays are adapted to assess the antioxidant activity of GO and rGO. Significant in-vitro antioxidant activity was observed in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the antitumor activity of synthesized nanosheets was tested against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) at various concentrations. The test results show that the graphene derivatives in the MCF-7 cell line exhibit an increase in apoptotic behaviour as sample concentration rises. This study could offer novel insights into the antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of the green synthesized graphene-based derivatives.

Monodisperse nanosheet mesophases.

Self-assemblies of anisotropic colloidal particles into colloidal liquid crystals and well-defined superlattices are of great interest for hierarchical nanofabrications that are applicable for various functional materials. Inorganic nanosheets obtained by exfoliation of layered crystals have been highlighted as the intriguing colloidal units; however, the size polydispersity of the nanosheets has been preventing precise design of the assembled structures and their functions. Here, we demonstrate that the anionic titanate nanosheets with monodisperse size reversibly form very unusual superstructured mesophases through finely tunable weak attractive interactions between the nanosheets. Transmission electron microscopy, polarizing optical microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, and confocal laser scanning microscopy clarified the reversible formation of the mesophases (columnar nanofibers, columnar nematic liquid crystals, and columnar nanofiber bundles) as controlled by counter cations, nanosheet concentration, solvent, and temperature.

Improved tribological performance of Al2O3 fiber at microscale via a WS2-PEG/WPU self-lubricating sizing agent

In this work, a new green modified tungsten disulfide (WS2-PEG)-waterborne polyurethane (WPU) self-lubricating sizing agent was proposed to improve the tribological properties of microscale alumina fibers (single Al2O3 fiber). The chemical characterization analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of WS2-PEG nanosheets with an average particle size of 211 nm, which significantly improved their dispersion in sizing agents. Subsequently, the single Al2O3 fibers were sized (denoted as WS2-PEG/WPU@single Al2O3 fibers) and their friction and wear properties were discussed. The experimental results showed that the addition of WS2-PEG to the single Al2O3 fiber decreased its friction coefficient (COF) (43.48 %), reduced wear conditions. And the COF and wear of WS2-PEG /WPU@single Al2O3 fiber decreased with the increase of normal load. The optimized concentration of WS2-PEG nanosheets was 0.05 g/L, which minimized the friction and wear of the fibers and formed a continuous, dense, and high load-carrying lubricating friction film on the fibers, improving the tribological properties of the single Al2O3 fiber.

Biomedicial therapeutic potential of copper tannic acid coordination nanosheet with multiple catalytic properties

The utilization of nanomaterials in disease treatment has become a prominent area of research in the medical field. Nanocarrier materials endowed with catalytic and biological enzyme properties have exhibited promising prospects for applications in treating chronic inflammatory diseases, including cancer and diabetes. In this study, we have successfully synthesized a versatile CuTA nanosheets with a cost-effective approach, making it suitable for various pathological models. The CuTA nanosheets exhibit remarkable characteristics, including catalyzing the Fenton reaction for peroxide decomposition and accelerating the release of nitric oxide (NO) through the catalysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), both of which are dependent on the concentration of the CuTA nanosheets. Furthermore, at a concentration of 2 mg/mL, the CuTA nanosheets achieved a removal rate of free radicals at 63.7%. When exposed to 808 nm near-infrared light, the temperature rose from 8 °C to 42 °C within 10 min. Additionally, at a concentration of 50 µg/mL, the inhibition rates of CuTA nanosheets on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus reached 98.3% and 96.1%, respectively. These unique characteristics make it highly suitable for effective applications in various fields, including biomedical, drug delivery, and photothermal therapy.

Internal electric field modulation by copper vacancy concentration of cuprous sulfide nanosheets for enhanced selective CO2 photoreduction

Although the internal electric field (IEF) of photocatalysts is acknowledged as a potent driving force for photocharge separation, modulating the IEF intensity to achieve enhanced photocatalytic performances remains a challenge. Herein, cuprous sulfide nanosheets with different Cu vacancy concentration were employed to study IEF modulation and corresponding direct charge transfer. Among the samples, Cu1.8S nanosheets possessed intensified IEF intensity compared with those of Cu2S and Cu1.95S nanosheets, suggesting that an enhanced IEF intensity could be achieved by introducing more Cu vacancies. This intensified IEF of Cu1.8S nanosheets induced numerous photogenerated electrons to migrate to its surface, and the dissociative electrons were then captured by Cu vacancies, resulting in efficient charge separation spatially. In addition, the Cu vacancies on Cu1.8S nanosheets accumulated electrons as active sites to lower the energy barrier of rate-determining step of CO2 photoreduction, leading to the selective conversion of CO2 to CO. Herein, the manipulation of IEF intensity through Cu vacancy concentration regulation of cuprous sulfide photocatalysts for efficient charge separation has been discussed, providing a scientific strategy to rationally improve photocatalytic performances for solar energy conversion.

Ultrahigh-throughput cross-flow filtration of solution-processed 2D materials enabled by porous ceramic membranes.

Printed electronics is a disruptive technology in multiple applications including environmental and biological sensors, flexible displays, and wearable diagnostic devices. With superlative electronic, optical, mechanical, and chemical properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for printable electronic inks. While liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) methods can produce electronic-grade 2D materials, conventional batch separation processes typically rely on centrifugation, which requires significant time and effort to remove incompletely exfoliated bulk powders, hindering the scale-up of 2D ink manufacturing. While cross-flow filtration (CFF) has emerged as a promising continuous flow separation method for solution-processed 2D nanosheets, previously demonstrated polymer CFF membranes necessitate low 2D nanosheet concentrations to avoid fouling, which ultimately limits mass throughput. Here, we demonstrate a fully flow-based, exfoliation-to-ink system for electronic-grade 2D materials using an integrated cross-flow separation and concentration system. To overcome the relatively low-throughput processing concentrations of incumbent polymer CFF membranes, we employ porous ceramic CFF membranes that are tolerant to 10-fold higher nanosheet concentrations and flow rates without compromising separation efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate a concentration method via cross-flow ultrafiltration, where the retentate can be directly formulated into printable inks with electronic-grade performance that meets or exceeds centrifugally produced inks. Life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis quantitatively confirm the advantages of ceramic versus polymer CFF membranes including reductions of 97%, 96%, 94%, and 93% for greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, fossil fuel consumption, and specific production costs, respectively. Overall, this work presents an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective solution for the fabrication, separation, and printing of electronic-grade 2D materials.

Rheology of amino-functionalized graphene oxide suspensions in hydrogels

This work investigates the effects of amino-functionalized graphene oxide (AFGO) suspensions on the rheological behavior of Carbopol® hydrogels at pHs 5, 7, and 9. The AFGO concentration and media pH were evaluated and related to the suspension's microstructure and rheology. Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were synthesized using the modified Hummers method and functionalized with triethylenetetramine via microwave-assisted reaction to produce AFGO. The nanosheets were characterized by different techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The suspensions were characterized by rheological tests through steady-state and dynamic flow, zeta potential, and cryo-SEM for microstructure analysis. All samples presented a viscoplastic behavior and were modeled by the Herschel–Bulkley equation. Concerning the base hydrogels, the sample prepared at pH 9 showed lower viscosity, yield stress, and elastic modulus. At all pHs, the increase in the nanosheet concentration promotes a drop in the yield stress, viscosity, storage, and loss moduli. The cryomicrographs showed the impact of pH on the base hydrogel structure. It was also possible to observe that increasing nanoadditive concentration affects the Carbopol microgel swelling and weakens the suspension microstructure.

Effect of morphology on tribological properties of Fe3O4 as lubricant additive: Nanospheres, nanowires and nanosheets

This work investigates the morphologies of Fe3O4 nanoparticles how to affect the tribological properties when they are applied as nano-lubricating additives. Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different morphologies (nanospheres, nanowires and nanosheets) are synthesized by solvothermal method and added in liquid paraffin to test the tribological properties. Although Fe3O4 nanoparticles can achieve certain anti-friction and anti-wear effects under the same conditions, the Fe3O4 nanospheres shows the best tribological properties. In the optimal concentrations of Fe3O4 nanospheres, nanowires and nanosheets, the changes of the average friction coefficient are almost the same, the wear volume are decreased by 91.03%, 86.88% and 87.63%, respectively. Fe3O4 nanoparticles with different morphologies can form films in the gap between friction pairs when they are used as additives, which ensures that three different Fe3O4 nanoparticles can enhance the tribological properties of the liquid paraffin. Compared with Fe3O4 nanowires and nanosheets, besides the tribological films, Fe3O4 nanospheres play roles in self-healing and rolling friction effects between friction pairs, resulting in the best anti-friction and anti-wear.

Constructing a viscoelastic film for enhanced oil recovery via self-adsorption of amphiphilic nanosheets at oil-water interface

Immiscible liquid-liquid interfaces have widespread applications in drug delivery, oil-water separation, oil recovery, emulsion and foam stability, etc. Here, a dense viscoelastic interface film is constructed via the self-adsorption of amphiphilic molybdenum disulfide nanosheets at the oil-water interface, which has significant implications for enhanced oil recovery. The microscopic dispersion characteristics of amphiphilic nanosheets in water phase are characterized using Cryo-EM, and the adsorption regularities of amphiphilic nanosheets in horizontal and vertical directions of oil-water interface are also revealed. Besides the mechanical response and rheological properties of interface adsorption film are systematically studied. Experimental results demonstrate that the amphiphilic nanosheet can self-curl to form a single amphiphilic nanosheet with a size of 30 nm in the water phase as the amphiphilic nanosheets concentration is lower than 50 mg/L. When the amphiphilic nanosheets concentration reaches 100 mg/L, obvious water-phase aggregation behaviors happen. The amphiphilic nanosheets can reduce the oil-water interfacial tension from 18.47 mN/m to 0.27 mN/m by forming multilayer adsorption at the oil-water interface. The adsorption ratio of amphiphilic nanosheets from bulk phase to oil-water interface can reach 97.50 %. In addition, the oil-water interface adsorption film exhibits excellent elastic properties and higher strength because the amphiphilic nanosheets can form a planar network structure at the oil-water interface which can be also directly observed in microfluidic pores. The storage modulus and interface shear viscosity of interface adsorption film are 1.65 Pa and 1.38 mN·s/m, respectively. In theory, the required desorption energy of a single amphiphilic nanosheet from oil-water interface to bulk phase is deduced to be 587 KBT. This work is expected to provide amphiphilic molybdenum disulfide nanosheet as an effective candidate for enhanced oil recovery.

Assessing the Biocompatibility of Ti3C2 MXene Nanosheets with Terrestrial and Aquatic Plant Systems

In this study, the biocompatibility of MXene, an emergent class of two-dimensional nanomaterials, with plant systems was explored. Varying concentrations of Ti3C2-based MXene nanosheets were administered to two distinct plant groups—soil-grown Firecracker Flowers (Crossandra infundibuliformis) and water-based Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes). Predominantly, MXene was observed to be perceived by plant systems as a contaminant, as evidenced by analysis of collected data and images during our experiement. Stronger biocompatibility with soil plants compared to aquatic plants was demonstrated. Over a 19-day observation period, no disruption to the potted soil ecosystem of Firecracker Flowers was detected due to Ti3C2, while a significant impact on the Water Hyacinth ecosystem was noted. The effect of Ti3C2 on Water Hyacinth was found to be substantial and exhibited characteristics akin to those of typical pollutants. Through advanced techniques such as optical microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), the assimilation and spatial distribution of Ti3C2 within plant matrices were investigated. Ti3C2 was found to be absorbable by plants, but its diffusion within the plant body was determined to be notably limited. This study sheds light on the potential environmental implications of MXene nanomaterials.

Highly Efficient Liquid-Phase Exfoliation of Layered Perovskite-like Titanates HLnTiO4 and H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) into Nanosheets

Nanosheets of layered perovskite-like oxides attract researchers as building blocks for the creation of a wide range of demanded nanomaterials. However, Ruddlesden–Popper phases are difficult to separate into nanosheets quantitatively via the conventional liquid-phase exfoliation procedure in aqueous solutions of bulky organic bases. The present study has considered systematically a relatively novel and efficient approach to a high-yield preparation of concentrated suspensions of perovskite nanosheets. For this, the Ruddlesden–Popper titanates HLnTiO4 and H2Ln2Ti3O10 (Ln = La, Nd) have been intercalated by n-alkylamines with various chain lengths, exposed to sonication in aqueous tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) and centrifuged to separate the nanosheet-containing supernatant. The experiments included variations of a wide range of conditions, which allowed for the achievement of impressive nanosheet concentrations in suspensions up to 2.1 g/L and yields up to 95%. The latter were found to strongly depend on the length of intercalated n-alkylamines. Despite the less expanded interlayer space, the titanates modified with short-chain amines demonstrated a much higher completeness of liquid-phase exfoliation as compared to those with long-chain ones. It was also shown that the exfoliation efficiency depends more on the sample stirring time in the TBAOH solution than on the sonication duration. Analysis of the titanate nanosheets obtained by means of dynamic light scattering, electron and atomic force microscopy revealed their lateral sizes of 30–250 nm and thickness of 2–4 nm. The investigated exfoliation strategy appears to be convenient for the high-yield production of perovskite nanosheet-based materials for photocatalytic hydrogen production, environmental remediation and other applications.

Optimization of mechanical properties of multiscale hybrid polymer nanocomposites: A combination of experimental and machine learning techniques

Machine learning (ML) models provide fast and accurate predictions of material properties at a low computational cost. Herein, the mechanical properties of multiscale poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (P3HB)-based nanocomposites reinforced with different concentrations of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), WS2 nanosheets and sepiolite (SEP) nanoclay have been predicted. The nanocomposites were prepared via solution casting. SEM images revealed that the three nanofillers were homogenously and randomly dispersed into the matrix. A synergistic reinforcement effect was attained, resulting in an unprecedented stiffness improvement of 132% upon addition of 1:2:2 wt% SEP:MWCNTs:WS2. Conversely, the increments in strength were only moderates (up to 13.4%). A beneficial effect in the matrix ductility was also found due to the presence of both nanofillers. Four ML approaches, Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), RNN with Levenberg's algorithm (RNN-LV), decision tree (DT) and Random Forest (RF), were applied. The correlation coefficient (R2), mean absolute error (MAE) and mean square error (MSE) were used as statistical indicators to compare their performance. The best-performing model for the Young's modulus was RNN-LV with 3 hidden layers and 50 neurons in each layer, while for the tensile strength was the RF model using a combination of 100 estimators and a maximum depth of 100. An RNN model with 3 hidden layers was the most suitable to predict the elongation at break and impact strength, with 90 and 50 neurons in each layer, respectively. The highest correlation (R2 of 1 and 0.9203 for the training and test set, respectively) and the smallest errors (MSE of 0.13 and MAE of 0.31) were obtained for the prediction of the elongation at break. The developed models represent a powerful tool for the optimization of the mechanical properties in multiscale hybrid polymer nanocomposites, saving time and resources in the experimental characterization process.

Ultralow thermal conductivity of robust vermiculite aerogels fabricated by fast trivalent cation induced nanosheet gelation

Low thermal conductivities and high fire resistance are highly desired for the materials used in energy-efficient buildings with high-level safety. Traditional inorganic insulating materials are either fragile or have high thermal conductivities, while organic insulating materials or hybrids with inorganic ones are limited by poor fire resistance and significant volume shrinkage after heating. Herein we report mechanically robust vermiculite aerogels with a thermal conductivity as low as 0.033 W/(m·K), excellent fire resistance, and robust structural stability at high temperatures. The aerogels were assembled from delaminated two-dimensional vermiculite nanosheets via trivalent cations, such as Al3+, Fe3+, and La3+, induced fast gelation. The nanosheet concentration and ion cross-linking play critical roles in forming monolithic and robust aerogels. The vermiculite aerogels can resist a high-temperature flame without disintegration and show almost no volume shrinkage after long-time heat treatment at 700 °C. The excellent robustness and super-insulating performance (0.021 W/(m·K)) remain and even are improved after heating at 900 °C for 1 h. The as-made vermiculite aerogels show low-bulk density, high-porosity, super-insulating performance, excellent fire resistance, and environmental safety, endowing them with great potential as ideal thermal insulators for various applications, such as energy-efficient buildings.

Lignin-ultrasound method: Enhancement of antimicrobial capacity of MoS2-containing films

To improve the antimicrobial ability of MoS2-containing films, we used lignin and triple-frequency ultrasound for liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) to obtain MoS2 nanosheets. Photoresponsive antimicrobial films with MoS2 nanosheets, lignin, polyvinyl alcohol and deep eutectic solvents were subsequently prepared. Lignin functionalized the MoS2 nanosheets by chemically linking with S in MoS2 and significantly improved the exfoliation efficiency. Tri-frequency ultrasound produces beneficial effects on the LPE process by creating a more homogeneous sound field and a stronger degree of cavitation. The concentration of MoS2 nanosheets in the exfoliating solution could reach 1.713 mg/mL under the effect of lignin-ultrasound. The antimicrobial ability of the films was analyzed, and the colony-forming units of E. coli and S. aureus could be reduced from 7 × 106 to 1 × 106 cfu/mL under the irradiation of infrared. The lignin in the film undergoes depolymerization and demethoxylation under the irradiation of infrared to have a more phenolic hydroxyl structure, which confers the growth inhibition ability of the films for bacteria that cannot be in close contact with the film. The method we used has some significance for the preparation of MoS2 nanosheets, and composite films prepared from MoS2, and lignin can be used in food packaging, wound antimicrobials, and other fields.

Tribological performance and lubrication mechanism of carbon nitride nanosheets as novel and high-efficiency additives for water lubrication

Recently, water-based nano-additives have attracted more attention with the resurrection of water lubrication owing to the increasing awareness of environmental protection and energy-saving. Highly water-dispersible carbon nitride nanosheets (C3N4 nanosheets), obtained via a high-yield and low-cost hydrothermal approach, were first used as a novel and environmentally-friendly nano-additive for water-based lubrication. The tribotest results exhibited that the tribological performances of C3N4 nanosheets in the water-based lubricant are highly sensitive to their adding concentrations. It was found that a C3N4 nanosheet concentration of 0.2 wt% could decrease the friction and wear in steel-steel contacts by 49.0% and 54.2%, respectively. The lubrication performances of C3N4 nanosheets as additives were much better than those of C3N4, attributed to their regular shape, good water dispersibility, and high reactivity. In addition, C3N4 nanosheets as additives exhibited a long service life even under harsh lubrication conditions. In addition, the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation technique was first employed to study the lubrication performances and lubrication regimes of C3N4 nanosheets. By combining the results of MD simulations and wear track surface analyses, the formation of water-based lubricating film and tribochemical film (mainly composed of organic compounds, metal nitrides, iron oxides, metal carbonates, and C3N4 nanosheets) coupled with the interlayer sliding and polishing effects of C3N4 nanosheets were primarily responsible for the excellent tribological performances of C3N4 nanosheets.

Photocatalytic nanocomposite prepared by synthesis and coating of zinc stannate and graphene on cotton textile

In this work single step process for in situ synthesis of the graphene nanosheets and zinc stannate nanoparticles on the cotton fabric is introduced and functionalities of the nanocomposite are investigated. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The electrical resistance and color of treated fabrics were also assessed. The results proved that both of the nanomaterials were successfully synthesized and are attached to each other and cotton fibers. A higher concentration of nanosheets and more reduction made the specific surface resistance of the nanocomposite less. The nanosheets and zinc tin oxide had a synergistic effect on the photocatalytic activity and up to 91.1 % photocatalytic efficiency had been recorded. The nanocomposite was more hydrophobic than cotton fabric. The mechanical properties were not affected by the preparation processes. The nanocomposite indicated 99 % antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli.

Boron-based magnesium diboride nanosheets preparation and tested for antimicrobial properties for PES membrane

Antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics for current bacterial infection treatments is a medical problem. 2D nanoparticles, which can be used as both antibiotic carriers and direct antibacterial agents due to their large surface areas and direct contact with the cell membrane, are important alternatives in solving this problem. This study focuses on the effects of a new generation borophene derivative obtained from MgB2 particles on the antimicrobial activity of polyethersulfone membranes. MgB2 nanosheets were created by mechanically separating magnesium diboride (MgB2) particles into layers. The samples were microstructurally characterized using SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD methods. MgB2 nanosheets were screened for various biological activities such as antioxidant, DNA nuclease, antimicrobial, microbial cell viability inhibition, and antibiofilm activities. The antioxidant activity of nanosheets was 75.24 ± 4.15% at 200 mg/L. Plasmid DNA was entirely degraded at 125 and 250 mg/L nanosheet concentrations. MgB2 nanosheets exhibited a potential antimicrobial effect against tested strains. The cell viability inhibitory effect of the MgB2 nanosheets was 99.7 ± 5.78%, 99.89 ± 6.02%, and 100 ± 5.84% at 12.5 mg/L, 25 mg/L, and 50 mg/L, respectively. The antibiofilm activity of MgB2 nanosheets against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was observed to be satisfactory. Furthermore, a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was prepared by blending MgB2 nanosheets from 0.5 wt to 2.0 wt %. Pristine PES membrane also has shown the lowest steady-state fluxes at 30.1 ± 2.1 and 56.6 L/m2h for BSA and E. coli, respectively. With the increase of MgB2 nanosheets amount from 0.5 to 2.0 wt%, steady-state fluxes increased from 32.3 ± 2.5 to 42.0 ± 1.0 and from 15.6 ± 0.7 to 24.1 ± 0.8 L/m2h, respectively for BSA and E. coli. E. coli elimination performance of PES membrane coated with MgB2 nanosheets at different rates and the membrane filtration procedure was obtained from 96% to 100%. The results depicted that BSA and E. coli rejection efficiencies of MgB2 nanosheets blended PES membranes increased when compared to pristine PES membranes.

Improved in vitro biocompatibility and cytoplasmic localization of gold nanoparticles and graphene oxide nanosheets assessed using confocal microscopy

Nanomaterial-based delivery platforms have indeed revolutionized drug delivery systems in recent years. These platforms, which are based on various types of nanoparticles, offer several advantages over traditional drug delivery systems. Therefore, during this work, we synthesized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and graphene oxide (GO) as representative nanomaterials and assessed their biocompatibility and cytoplasmic localization in vitro. Structural characterization of the prepared nanoparticles was performed by using different techniques. For instance, laser diffraction spectrometry using a Nano-ZS Zetasizer was used to determine the particles size, and Zeta potential. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were utilized to evaluate Particle sizes and morphologies of the prepared nanoparticles. Additionally, the chemical structure of the prepared nanoparticles was assessed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The effects of the different concentrations of GNPs and GO nanosheets on cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by WST-1 cell proliferation assays. Ultimately, in vitro studies were performed by confocal microscopy to characterize the cellular uptake of the prepared nanoparticles. The net results of this study suggest that both nanomaterials showed a cytoplasmic entry without penetrating the nucleus. They may be useful for slow drug release as well as photothermal and photodynamic therapy using a low-powered laser or IR radiation.