Chuntao Chen

Recent progress in 2D or 3D N-doped graphene synthesis and the characterizations, properties, and modulations of N species

Nitrogen (N)-doped graphene (N-substituted or nitrogenated graphene) (NG) has become a new class of graphene material due to its modified properties such as the tunable work function, n-type semiconductivity, increasing biocompatibility, and, in particular, the synergistic function with various functional materials. However, the preparation of NG by a simple and effective method is still lacking. The modification of NG mainly depends on the N species and the N content. Thus, we focus on the recent progress in preparing methods of 2D NG and the respective key modulating parameters to modulate the N species and the N content. Furthermore, many effective charactering techniques are covered to accurately analyze the properties of N species, and the distribution and topography of N atoms. Also, we review the effect of N species on graphene, especially, the optical and electronic properties. Since constructing 3D structure is considered a promising strategy to prevent the restacking of 2D NG, the summary for preparing 3D NG is made on the basis of methodology of 2D NG. In a word, this review provides a reference for preparing 2D or 3D NG, modulating and characterizing N species, which are greatly contributed to the NG application.

Three-Dimensional BC/PEDOT Composite Nanofibers with High Performance for Electrode-Cell Interface.

There is an increasing need to synthesize biocompatible nanofibers with excellent mechanical and electrical performance for electrochemical and biomedical applications. Here we report a facile approach to prepare electroactive and flexible 3D nanostructured biomaterials with high performance based on bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers. Our approach can coat BC nanofibers with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) by in situ interfacial polymerization in a controllable manner. The PEDOT coating thickness is adjustable by the monomer concentration or reaction time during polymerization, producing nanofibers with a total diameter ranging from 30 to 200 nm. This fabrication process also provides a convenient method to tune different parameters such as the average pore size and electrical conductivity on the demands of actual applications. Our experiments have demonstrated that the 3D BC/PEDOT nanofibers exhibit high specific surface area, excellent mechanical properties, electroactive stability, and low cell cytotoxicity. With electrical stimulation, calcium imaging of PC12 neural cells on BC/PEDOT nanofibers has revealed a significant increase in the percentage of cells with higher action potentials, suggesting an enhanced capacitance effect of charge injection. As an attractive solution to the challenge of designing better electrode-cell interfaces, 3D BC/PEDOT nanofibers promise many important applications such as biosensing devices, smart drug delivery systems, and implantable electrodes for tissue engineering.

Biointerface by Cell Growth on Graphene Oxide Doped Bacterial Cellulose/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Nanofibers

Highly biocompatible advanced materials with excellent electroactivity are increasingly meaningful to biointerfaces and the development of biomedicine. Herein, bacterial cellulose/poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene)/graphene oxide (BC/PEDOT/GO) composite nanofibers were synthesized through the in situ interfacial polymerization of PEDOT with the doping of GO. The abundant free carboxyl and hydroxy groups offer the BC/PEDOT/GO film active functional groups for surface modification. We demonstrate the use of this composite nanofiber for the electrical stimulation of PC12 neural cells as this resultant nanofiber scaffold could closely mimic the structure of the native extracellular matrix (ECM) with a promoting cell orientation and differentiation after electrical stimulation of PC12 cells. It is expected that this biocompatible BC/PEDOT/GO material will find potential applications in biological and regenerative medicine.

Novel Cu@SiO2/bacterial cellulose nanofibers: Preparation and excellent performance in antibacterial activity.

The antibacterial composite based on bacterial cellulose (BC) was successfully prepared by in-situ synthesis of SiO2 coated Cu nanoparticles (Cu@SiO2/BC) and its properties were characterized. Its chemical structures and morphologies were evaluated by Fourier transformation infrared spectrum (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results demonstrated that the SiO2 coated Cu particles were well homogeneously precipitated on the surface of BC. The Cu@SiO2/BC was more resistant to oxidation than the Cu nanoparticles impregnated into BC (Cu/BC) and then Cu@SiO2/BC could prolong the antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli).

Synthesis and characterization of hydroxypropyl cellulose from bacterial cellulose

Bacterial cellulose produced by Acetobacter xylinum has been reacted with propyleneoxide to synthesize hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) under different reaction conditions while diluted by toluene. The effects of mass ratio of bacterial cellulose to propyleneoxide, dilutability of toluene, reaction temperature (T) and time (t) were investigated by series of experiments. The degree of substitution (DS), hydroxypropyl content (A) and yield (η) were compared. The optimized product exhibited cold-water solubility and hot-water gelatinization in aqueous medium. Further study was carried out with FTIR, TGA, XRD, SEM and 13C-NMR for characterization. The water/air contact angle measurement reveals that it is a good hydrophobic material with good mechanical properties.

Electrically-responsive core-shell hybrid microfibers for controlled drug release and cell culture

It is an active research field to develop fiber-shaped smart materials for biomedical applications. Here we report the development of the multifunctional core-shell hybrid microfibers with excellent mechanical and electrical performance as a new smart biomaterial. The microfibers were synthesized using a combination of co-axial spinning with a microfluidic device and subsequent dip-coating, containing a hydrogel core of bacterial cellulose (BC) and a conductive polymer shell layer of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). The hybrid microfibers were featured with a well-controlled microscopic morphology, exhibiting enhanced mechanic properties. A model drug, diclofenac sodium, can be loaded in the core layer of the microfibers in situ during the process of synthesis. Our experiments suggested that the releasing behaviors of the drug molecules from the microfibers were enhanced by external electrical stimulation. Interestingly, we demonstrated an excellent biocompatibility and electroactivity of the hybrid microfibers for PC12 cell culture, thus promising a flexible template for the reconstruction of electrically-responsive tissues mimicking muscle fibers or nerve networks. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Fiber-shaped biomaterials are useful in creating various functional objects from one dimensional to three-dimensional. The fabrication of microfibers with integrated physicochemical properties and bio-performance has drawn an increasing attention on researchers from chemical to biomedical. This study combined biocompatible bacterial cellulose with electroconductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and further reduced them to a highly electroactive BC/PEDOT core-shell microfiber electrode for electrochemical actuator design. The result showed that the microfibers were well fabricated and the release of drugs from the microfibers was enhanced and could be controlled under electrical stimulation externally. Considering the excellent biocompatibility and electroactive toward PC12 cells, these microfibers may find use as templates for the reconstruction of fiber-shaped functional tissues that mimic muscle fibers, blood vessels or nerve networks in vivo.

Synthesis of BC@mTiO2 hybrid nanofibers for highly efficient enrichment and detection of phosphopeptides

Along with advances in life science and clinical research, there has been an increasing interest in enrichment technologies for proteins with post-translational modifications. Here we report a new platform to enrich and detect phosphopeptides using the hybrid nanofibers synthesized from bacterial cellulose (BC). Hydrothermal reactions have successfully been employed to synthesize BC@mTiO2 hybrid nanofibers. The morphology of the hybrid nanofibers has been characterized in detail. They are featured with tremendously increased specific surface areas and appropriate pore size for adsorption of phosphopeptides with high efficiency. The BC@mTiO2 tips allow improving both the sensitivity and selectivity of mass spectrometry by nearly two orders of magnitude compared with the commercial tips. As a robust and highly cost-effective platform, our approach has provided a nanotechnology invention to enrich and detect phosphorylated proteins with important biomedical applications.

Facile approach to the fabrication of 3D cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel with ideal biocompatibility

In this study, the reinforcing effects of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) on poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix were explored. And ethylene glycol was used to enhance the water content and phosphate buffer saline (PBS) absorbency. The morphological aspects of the hydrogel were studied by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The presence of interactions, changes in crystallinity as well as thermal behaviour were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry respectively. With the increase of CNFs concentration, the composite greatly improved its mechanical strength while maintaining remarkable ductility through tensile test results. The positive results of cell toxicity test suggested our porous hydrogel could provide ideal cell growth environment. This work revealed that CNFs hydrolysed by bacterial cellulose could perform as a perfect reinforcing agents which is of great interest in the fields of biotechnology and biomedicine with the potential values in cell culture, co-cultivation, as well as biomedical scaffold materials.

Biosynthesis approach to nitrogen doped graphene by denitrifying bacteria CFMI-1

Here we present a novel approach to prepare N-doped graphene under ambient conditions by denitrifying bacteria CFMI-1. The N element can be effectively introduced into graphene and 8.2% (atom %) N doping level can be achieved. N-doped graphene possesses a size around 300–600 nm and an average thickness of 1–2 nm.

Regenerated bacterial cellulose microfluidic column for glycoproteins separation

To analysis and separate glycoproteins, a simple strategy to prepare regenerated bacterial cellulose (RBC) column with concanavalin A (Con A) lectin immobilized in microfluidic system was applied. RBC was filled into microchannel to fabricate RBC microcolumn after bacterial cellulose dissolved in NaOH-sulfourea water solution. Lectin Con A was covalently connected onto RBC matrix surface via Schiff-base formation. Lysozyme (non-glycoprotein) and transferrin (glycoprotein) were successfully separated based on their different affinities toward the immobilized Con A. Overall, the RBC microfluidic system presents great potential application in affinity chromatography of glycoproteins analysis, and this research represents a significant step to prepare bacterial cellulose (BC) as column packing material in microfluidic system. What is more, troublesome operations for lectin affinity chromatography were simplified by integrating the microfluidic chip onto a HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) system.