Cytotoxicity of Nucleotide-Stabilized Graphene Dispersions on Osteosarcoma and Healthy Cells: On the Way to Safe Theranostics Agents.

An appealing strategy that overcomes the hydrophobicity of pristine graphene and favors its interaction with biological media is colloidal stabilization in aqueous medium with the support of a biomolecule, such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN), as exfoliating/dispersing agent. However, to establish FMN-stabilized graphene (PG-FMN) as suitable for use in biomedicine, its biocompatibility must be proved by a complete assessment of cytotoxicity at the cellular level. Furthermore, if PG-FMN is to be proposed as a theranostic agent, such a study should include both healthy and tumoral cells and its outcome should reveal the nanomaterial as selectively toxic to the latter.

Macrophage inflammatory and metabolic responses to graphene-based nanomaterials differing in size and functionalization.

The preparation of graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) with appropriate stability and biocompatibility is crucial for their use in biomedical applications. In this work, three GBNs differing in size and/or functionalization have been synthetized and characterized, and their in vitro biological effects were compared. Pegylated graphene oxide (GO-PEG, 200-500 nm) and flavin mononucleotide-stabilized pristine graphene with two different sizes (PG-FMN, 200-400 nm and 100-200 nm) were administered to macrophages, chosen as cellular model due to their key role in the processing of foreign materials and the regulation of inflammatory responses.

Aqueous Exfoliation of Transition Metal Dichalcogenides Assisted by DNA/RNA Nucleotides: Catalytically Active and Biocompatible Nanosheets Stabilized by Acid-Base Interactions.

The exfoliation and colloidal stabilization of layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in an aqueous medium using functional biomolecules as dispersing agents have a number of potential benefits toward the production and practical use of the corresponding two-dimensional materials, but such a strategy has so far remained underexplored. Here, we report that DNA and RNA nucleotides are highly efficient dispersants in the preparation of stable aqueous suspensions of MoS and other TMD nanosheets at significant concentrations (up to 5-10 mg mL). Unlike the case of common surfactants, for which adsorption on 2D materials is generally based on weak dispersive forces, the exceptional colloidal stability of the TMD flakes was shown to rely on the presence of relatively strong, specific interactions of Lewis acid-base type between the DNA/RNA nucleotide molecules and the flakes.

Impact of Covalent Functionalization on the Aqueous Processability, Catalytic Activity, and Biocompatibility of Chemically Exfoliated MoS Nanosheets.

Chemically exfoliated MoS (ce-MoS) has emerged in recent years as an attractive two-dimensional material for use in relevant technological applications, but fully exploiting its potential and versatility will most probably require the deployment of appropriate chemical modification strategies. Here, we demonstrate that extensive covalent functionalization of ce-MoS nanosheets with acetic acid groups (∼0.4 groups grafted per MoS unit) based on the organoiodide chemistry brings a number of benefits in terms of their processability and functionality.

Chemically exfoliated MoS₂ nanosheets as an efficient catalyst for reduction reactions in the aqueous phase.

Chemically exfoliated MoS2 (ce-MoS2) nanosheets that incorporate a large fraction of metallic 1T phase have been recently shown to possess a high electrocatalytic activity in the hydrogen evolution reaction, but the potential of this two-dimensional material as a catalyst has otherwise remained mostly uncharted. Here, we demonstrate that ce-MoS2 nanosheets are efficient catalysts for a number of model reduction reactions (namely, those of 4-nitrophenol, 4-nitroaniline, methyl orange, and [Fe(CN)6](3-)) carried out in aqueous medium using NaBH4 as a reductant. The performance of the nanosheets in these reactions is found to be comparable to that of many noble metal-based catalysts.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of organogold(I) phosphanes with allylic electrophiles.

Aryl and alkenylgold(I) phosphanes react regioselectively with allylic electrophiles such as cinnamyl and geranyl halides (bromide, chloride and acetates) under palladium catalysis in THF at 80 °C to afford the α-substitution product with moderate to high yields. When the reaction is performed with a chiral enantiopure secondary acetate, the α-substituted cross-coupling product is obtained with complete inversion of the stereochemistry.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of organogold(I) reagents with organic electrophiles.

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of organogold(I) reagents (alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, and alkynyl) with organic electrophiles, such as aryl and alkenyl halides, aryl triflates, benzyl bromide, and benzoyl chloride is reported. The reaction takes place, under palladium catalysis, at room temperature with short reaction times to give the corresponding cross-coupling products in high yields.