3D-printed poly(ethylene) glycol diacrylate (PEGDA)-chitosan-nanohydroxyapatite scaffolds: Structural characterization and cellular response.

Polymer-based scaffolds with bioactive materials offer great potential in bone tissue engineering. Polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) scaffolds fabricated via liquid crystal display 3D printing technique lack inherent osteoconductivity. To improve such properties, chitosan of 10 and 20 wt% and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) (3-10 wt%) were incorporated into PEGDA scaffolds.

Enhanced removal of lead and zinc by a 3D aluminium sulphate-functionalised graphene aerogel as an effective adsorption system.

The discharge of heavy metals into the environment has adversely affected the aquatic ecosystem due to their toxic and non-biodegradable nature. In this research, a three-dimensional graphene oxide/carboxymethylcellulose/aluminium sulphate (GOCAS) aerogel was synthesised and evaluated as a novel means for lead and zinc removal. The GOCAS aerogel was prepared via ice-templating of graphene oxide with carboxymethylcellulose and aluminium sulphate as the crosslinking and functionalisation additives.

Facile Preparation of Carbon Nanotubes/Cellulose Nanofibrils/Manganese Dioxide Nanowires Electrode for Improved Solid-Sate Supercapacitor Performances.

Wearable energy storage devices require high mechanical stability and high-capacitance flexible electrodes. In this study, we design a flexible supercapacitor electrode consisting of 1-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNT), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and manganese dioxide nanowires (MnO NWs). The flexible and conductive CNT/CNF-MnO NWs suspension was first prepared via ultrasonic dispersion approach, followed by vacuum filtration and hot press to form the composite paper electrode.

Development of Thermally Responsive PolyNIPAm Microcarrier for Application of Cell Culturing-Part I: A Feasibility Study.

Poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (polyNIPAm) microspheres were synthesized via the suspension polymerization technique. Thermal and redox initiators were compared for the polymerization, in order to study the effect of initiator type on the surface charge and particle size of polyNIPAm microspheres. The successful polymerization of NIPAm was confirmed by FTIR analysis.

Copper Nanowires as Highly Efficient and Recyclable Catalyst for Rapid Hydrogen Generation from Hydrolysis of Sodium Borohydride.

Hydrogen (H) is a clean energy carrier which can help to solve environmental issues with the depletion of fossil fuels. Sodium borohydride (NaBH) is a promising candidate material for solid state hydrogen storage due to its huge hydrogen storage capacity and nontoxicity. However, the hydrolysis of NaBH usually requires expensive noble metal catalysts for a high H generation rate (HGR).

Highly stable binder free CNTs/rGO aerogel electrode for decolouration of methylene blue & palm oil mill effluent electro-Fenton oxidation process.

In this study, single wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/reduced graphene oxides (rGO) aerogels were prepared by a one-pot hydrothermal process without using a binder. The produced CNTs/rGO aerogel was used as cathode in electro-Fenton system for the decolouration of methylene blue (MB) and palm oil mill effluent (POME). The addition of CNTs increased the surface area, pore volume and conductivity of the rGO aerogel, which further enhanced their performance as cathode towards the decolouration of MB and POME electro-Fenton reaction.

Fabrication and preliminary in vitro evaluation of ultraviolet-crosslinked electrospun fish scale gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds.

This study aimed to explore a potential use of fish scale-derived gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds (GNS) in tissue engineering due to their biological and economical merits. Extraction of gelatin was achieved via decalcification, sonication and lyophilization of mixed fish scales. To fabricate nano-scale architecture of scaffolds analogous to natural extracellular matrix, gelatin was rendered into nanofibrous matrices through 6-h electrospinning, resulting in the average diameter of 48 ± 12 nm.

A cobalt oxide nanocubes interleaved reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode for amperometric detection of serotonin.

Cobalt oxide nanocubes incorporated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO-CoO) was prepared by using simple one-step hydrothermal route. Crystallinity and structural characteristics of the nanocomposite were analyzed and confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analysis, respectively. The cubical shape of the CoO nanostructures and the distribution of CoO nanocubes on the surface of rGO sheets were identified through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping analysis, respectively.

Ice-templated graphene oxide/chitosan aerogel as an effective adsorbent for sequestration of metanil yellow dye.

Graphene oxide/chitosan aerogel (GOCA) was prepared by a facile ice-templating technique without using any cross-linking reagent for metanil yellow dye sequestration. The adsorption performance of GOCA was investigated by varying the adsorbent mass, shaking speed, initial pH, contact time, concentration and temperature. The combined effects of adsorption parameters and the optimum conditions for dye removal were determined by response surface methodology.

One-step green hydrothermal synthesis of biocompatible graphene/TiO nanocomposites for non-enzymatic HO detection and their cytotoxicity effects on human keratinocyte and lung fibroblast cells.

Highly sensitive and selective immunosensors that can detect disease biomarkers at ultra-low levels in early stages are urgently needed to reduce mortality risks. A facile and efficient approach using sonochemical-assisted solvent graphene exfoliation and a hydrothermal synthesis method has been used to prepare graphene/titanium dioxide (G/TiO) nanocomposites. Nanocomposites containing different ratios of graphene and TiO precursors were prepared to determine the optimum composition of G/TiO that has the highest conductivity and electrocatalytic properties.

Sensitivity enhancement of graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite-based electrochemical impedance genosensor for single stranded RNA detection.

An efficient electrochemical impedance genosensing platform has been constructed based on graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite produced via a facile and green approach. Highly pristine graphene was synthesised from graphite through liquid phase sonication and then mixed with zinc acetate hexahydrate for the synthesis of graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite by solvothermal growth. The as-synthesised graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite was characterised with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) to evaluate its morphology, crystallinity, composition and purity.

Green synthesis of graphene-silver nanocomposites and its application as a potent marine antifouling agent.

Fouling of marine surfaces has been a perpetual problem ever since the days of the early sailors. The tenacious attachment of seaweed and invertebrates to man-made surfaces, notably on ship hulls, has incurred undesirable economic losses. Graphene receives great attention in the materials world for its unique combination of physical and chemical properties.

A Proof of Concept: Detection of Avian Influenza H5 Gene by a Graphene-Enhanced Electrochemical Genosensor.

The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5N1 has been found to be the most virulent and deadliest virus strain, with capability of interspecies transmission to human infection. Most human HPAI H5N1 cases were diagnosed late in their illnesses for medical care, resulting in severe complications that led to death. In this study, a novel graphene-enhanced electrochemical DNA biosensor had been fabricated for the detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicon derived from the haemagglutinin (H5) gene of the HPAI.

Facile hydrothermal growth graphene/ZnO nanocomposite for development of enhanced biosensor.

Graphene/zinc oxide nanocomposite was synthesised via a facile, green and efficient approach consisted of novel liquid phase exfoliation and solvothermal growth for sensing application. Highly pristine graphene was synthesised through mild sonication treatment of graphite in a mixture of ethanol and water at an optimum ratio. The X-ray diffractometry (XRD) affirmed the hydrothermal growth of pure zinc oxide nanoparticles from zinc nitrate hexahydrate precursor.

Cationic and anionic modifications of oil palm empty fruit bunch fibers for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibers were employed to remove dyes from aqueous solutions via adsorption approaches. The EFB fibers were modified using citric acid (CA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) to produce anionic and cationic adsorbents, respectively. The CA modified EFB fibers (CA-EFB) and PEI-modified EFB fibers (PEI-EFB) were used to study the efficiency in removing cationic methylene blue (MB) and anionic phenol red (PR) from aqueous solutions, respectively, at different pHs, temperatures and initial dye concentrations.

Citric acid modified kenaf core fibres for removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution.

Chemically modified kenaf core fibres were prepared via esterification in the presence of citric acid (CA). The adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies were carried out under different conditions to examine the adsorption efficiency of CA-treated kenaf core fibres towards methylene blue (MB). The adsorption capacity of the kenaf core fibres increased significantly after the citric acid treatment.