Research

15 pages, 3047 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cinnamon-Nanoparticle-Loaded Macroalgal Nanocomposite Film for Antibacterial Food Packaging Applications

by Samsul Rizal, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil, Shazlina Abd Hamid, Esam Bashir Yahya, Ikramullah Ikramullah, Rudi Kurniawan and Che Mohamad Hazwan

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030560 - 30 Jan 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1987

Abstract

In addition to environmental concerns, the presence of microorganisms in plastic food packaging can be hazardous to human health. In this work, cinnamon nanoparticles incorporated with red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) biopolymer films were fabricated using a solvent casting method. Cinnamon was [...] Read more.

In addition to environmental concerns, the presence of microorganisms in plastic food packaging can be hazardous to human health. In this work, cinnamon nanoparticles incorporated with red seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) biopolymer films were fabricated using a solvent casting method. Cinnamon was used as a filler to enhance the properties of the films at different concentrations (1, 3, 5, and 7% w/w) by incorporating it into the matrix network. The physico-chemical, thermal, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties of the cinnamon biopolymer films were obtained using dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), water contact angle (WCA) measurement, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mechanical testing, and antimicrobial testing, respectively. The results showed that the addition of cinnamon nanoparticles to the film improved the morphological, mechanical, thermal, wettability, and antibacterial properties of the nanocomposite films. The cinnamon particles were successfully reduced to nano-sized particles with an average diameter between 1 nm and 100 nm. The hydrophobicity of the film increased as the concentration of cinnamon nanoparticles incorporated into the seaweed matrix increased. The tensile and thermal properties of the cinnamon seaweed biopolymer film were significantly improved with the presence of cinnamon nanoparticles. The biopolymer films exhibited good inhibitory activity at 7% cinnamon nanoparticles against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Salmonella bacteria with inhibition zone diameters of 11.39, 10.27, and 12.46 mm, indicating the effective antimicrobial activity of the biopolymer film. The functional properties of the fabricated biopolymer film were enhanced with the addition of cinnamon nanoparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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22 pages, 5882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chitosan-Graphene Oxide Dip-Coated Polyacrylonitrile-Ethylenediamine Electrospun Nanofiber Membrane for Removal of the Dye Stuffs Methylene Blue and Congo Red

by Maadri A. Pathirana, Nethmi S. L. Dissanayake, Nandula D. Wanasekara, Boris Mahltig and Gayani K. Nandasiri

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030498 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2042

Abstract

Textile wastewater accommodates many toxic organic contaminants that could potentially threaten the ecosystem if left untreated. Methylene blue is a toxic, non-biodegradable, cationic dye that is reportedly observed in significant amounts in the textile effluent stream as it is widely used to dye [...] Read more.

Textile wastewater accommodates many toxic organic contaminants that could potentially threaten the ecosystem if left untreated. Methylene blue is a toxic, non-biodegradable, cationic dye that is reportedly observed in significant amounts in the textile effluent stream as it is widely used to dye silk and cotton fabrics. Congo red is a carcinogenic anionic dye commonly used in the textile industry. This study reports an investigation of methylene blue and Congo red removal using a chitosan-graphene oxide dip-coated electrospun nanofiber membrane. The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), FT-IR Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, UV-vis Spectroscopy, Drop Shape Analyzer, and X-ray Diffraction. The isotherm modeling confirmed a maximum adsorptive capacity of 201 mg/g for methylene blue and 152 mg/g for Congo red, which were well fitted with a Langmuir isotherm model indicating homogenous monolayer adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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26 pages, 8782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

PCL/Gelatin/Graphene Oxide Electrospun Nanofibers: Effect of Surface Functionalization on In Vitro and Antibacterial Response

by Nazirah Hamdan, Wan Khartini Wan Abdul Khodir, Shafida Abd Hamid, Mohd Hamzah Mohd Nasir, Ahmad Sazali Hamzah, Iriczalli Cruz-Maya and Vincenzo Guarino

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030488 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2213

Abstract

The emergence of resistance to pathogenic bacteria has resulted from the misuse of antibiotics used in wound treatment. Therefore, nanomaterial-based agents can be used to overcome these limitations. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin/graphene oxide electrospun nanofibers (PGO) are functionalized via plasma treatment with [...] Read more.

The emergence of resistance to pathogenic bacteria has resulted from the misuse of antibiotics used in wound treatment. Therefore, nanomaterial-based agents can be used to overcome these limitations. In this study, polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin/graphene oxide electrospun nanofibers (PGO) are functionalized via plasma treatment with the monomeric groups diallylamine (PGO-M1), acrylic acid (PGO-M2), and tert-butyl acrylate (PGO-M3) to enhance the action against bacteria cells. The surface functionalization influences the morphology, surface wettability, mechanical properties, and thermal stability of PGO nanofibers. PGO-M1 and PGO-M2 exhibit good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, whereas PGO-M3 tends to reduce their antibacterial properties compared to PGO nanofibers. The highest proportion of dead bacteria cells is found on the surface of hydrophilic PGO-M1, whereas live cells are colonized on the surface of hydrophobic PGO-M3. Likewise, PGO-M1 shows a good interaction with L929, which is confirmed by the high levels of adhesion and proliferation with respect to the control. All the results confirm that surface functionalization can be strategically used as a tool to engineer PGO nanofibers with controlled antibacterial properties for the fabrication of highly versatile devices suitable for different applications (e.g., health, environmental pollution). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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13 pages, 2598 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Smart Nanofiber Mesh with Locally Sustained Drug Release Enabled Synergistic Combination Therapy for Glioblastoma

by Yinuo Li, Yoshitaka Matsumoto, Lili Chen, Yu Sugawara, Emiho Oe, Nanami Fujisawa, Mitsuhiro Ebara and Hideyuki Sakurai

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(3), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13030414 - 19 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1846

Abstract

This study aims to propose a new treatment model for glioblastoma (GBM). The combination of chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy and radiotherapy has been achieved in a highly simultaneous manner through the application of a safe, non-toxic, locally sustained drug-releasing composite Nanofiber mesh (NFM). [...] Read more.

This study aims to propose a new treatment model for glioblastoma (GBM). The combination of chemotherapy, molecular targeted therapy and radiotherapy has been achieved in a highly simultaneous manner through the application of a safe, non-toxic, locally sustained drug-releasing composite Nanofiber mesh (NFM). The NFM consisted of biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone) with temozolomide (TMZ) and 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG), which was used in radiation treatment. TMZ and 17AAG combination showed a synergistic cytotoxicity effect in the T98G cell model. TMZ and 17AAG induced a radiation-sensitization effect, respectively. The NFM containing 17AAG or TMZ, known as 17AAG-NFM and TMZ-NFM, enabled cumulative drug release of 34.1% and 39.7% within 35 days. Moreover, 17AAG+TMZ-NFM containing both drugs revealed a synergistic effect in relation to the NFM of a single agent. When combined with radiation, 17AAG+TMZ-NFM induced in an extremely powerful cytotoxic effect. These results confirmed the application of NFM can simultaneously allow multiple treatments to T98G cells. Each modality achieved a significant synergistic effect with the other, leading to a cascading amplification of the therapeutic effect. Due to the superior advantage of sustained drug release over a long period of time, NFM has the promise of clinically addressing the challenge of high recurrence of GBM post-operatively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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17 pages, 4300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrospun Chitosan–Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofiber Dressings Loaded with Bioactive Ursolic Acid Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing

by Hongyu Lv, Meng Zhao, Yiran Li, Kun Li, Shaojuan Chen, Wenwen Zhao, Shaohua Wu and Yantao Han

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(17), 2933; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12172933 - 25 Aug 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 2976

Abstract

The design and development of novel dressing materials are urgently required for the treatment of chronic wounds caused by diabetic ulcers in clinics. In this study, ursolic acid (UA) extracted from Chinese herbal plants was encapsulated into electrospun nanofibers made from a blend [...] Read more.

The design and development of novel dressing materials are urgently required for the treatment of chronic wounds caused by diabetic ulcers in clinics. In this study, ursolic acid (UA) extracted from Chinese herbal plants was encapsulated into electrospun nanofibers made from a blend of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to generate innovative CS-PVA-UA dressings for diabetic wound treatment. The as-prepared CS-PVA-UA nanofiber mats exhibited randomly aligned fiber morphology with the mean fiber diameters in the range of 100–200 nm, possessing great morphological resemblance to the collagen fibrils which exist in the native skin extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, the CS-PVA-UA nanofiber mats were found to possess good surface hydrophilicity and wettability, and sustained UA release behavior. The in vitro biological tests showed that the high concentration of UA could lead to slight cytotoxicity. It was also found that the CS-PVA-UA nanofiber dressings could significantly reduce the M1 phenotypic transition of macrophages that was even stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and could effectively restore the M2 polarization of macrophages to shorten the inflammatory period. Moreover, the appropriate introduction of UA into CS-PVA nanofibers decreased the release levels of TNF-α and IL-6 inflammatory factors, and suppressed oxidative stress responses by reducing the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well. The results from mouse hepatic hemorrhage displayed that CS-PVA-UA nanofiber dressing possessed excellent hemostatic performance. The in vivo animal experiments displayed that the CS-PVA-UA nanofiber dressing could improve the closure rate, and also promote the revascularization and re-epithelization, as well as the deposition and remodeling of collagen matrix and the regeneration of hair follicles for diabetic wounds. Specifically, the mean contraction rate of diabetic wounds using CS-PVA-UA nanofiber dressing could reach 99.8% after 18 days of treatment. In summary, our present study offers a promising nanofibrous dressing candidate with multiple biological functions, including anti-inflammation, antioxidation, pro-angiogenesis, and hemostasis functions, for the treatment of hard-to-heal diabetic wounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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12 pages, 5423 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrospun Biodegradable Poly(L-lactic acid) Nanofiber Membranes as Highly Porous Oil Sorbent Nanomaterials

by Jizhen Yang, Fan Li, Guibin Lu, Yuanbin Lu, Chuanbo Song, Rong Zhou and Shaohua Wu

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(15), 2670; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12152670 - 03 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1736

Abstract

Crude oil spills seriously harm the ocean environment and endanger the health of various animals and plants. In the present study, a totally biodegradable polymer, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), was employed to fabricate highly porous oil absorbent nanofibrous materials by using a combination of [...] Read more.

Crude oil spills seriously harm the ocean environment and endanger the health of various animals and plants. In the present study, a totally biodegradable polymer, poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA), was employed to fabricate highly porous oil absorbent nanofibrous materials by using a combination of electrospinning technique and subsequent acetone treatment. We systematically investigated how the electrospinning parameters affected formation of the porous structure of PLLA nanofibers and demonstrated that PLLA nanofibers with decreased and uniform diameter and improved porosity could be rapidly prepared by adjusting solution parameters and spinning parameters. We also demonstrated that the acetone treatment could obviously enhance the pore diameter and specific surface area of as-optimized electrospun PLLA nanofibers. The acetone treatment could also improve the hydrophobic property of as-treated PLLA nanofiber membranes. All these led to a significant increase in oil absorption performance. Through our research, it was found that the oil absorption of PLLA nanofiber membrane increased by more than double after being treated with acetone and the oil retention rate was also improved slightly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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16 pages, 5377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photothermal Regulated Nanozyme of CuFeS₂ Nanoparticles for Efficiently Promoting Wound Healing Infected by Multidrug Resistant Bacteria

by Zezhong Liu, Zengxu Liu, Zhen Zhao, Danxia Li, Pengfei Zhang, Yanfang Zhang, Xiangyong Liu, Xiaoteng Ding and Yuanhong Xu

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2469; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142469 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1789

Abstract

Peroxidase-mediated chemokinetic therapy (CDT) can effectively resist bacteria; however, factors such as the high dosage of drugs seriously limit the antibacterial effect. Herein, CuFeS₂ nanoparticles (NPs) nanozyme antibacterial system with the photothermal effect and peroxidase-like catalytic activity are proposed as a combined [...] Read more.

Peroxidase-mediated chemokinetic therapy (CDT) can effectively resist bacteria; however, factors such as the high dosage of drugs seriously limit the antibacterial effect. Herein, CuFeS₂ nanoparticles (NPs) nanozyme antibacterial system with the photothermal effect and peroxidase-like catalytic activity are proposed as a combined antibacterial agent with biosafety, high-efficiency, and broad-spectrum antibacterial ability. In addition, the as-obtained CuFeS₂ NPs with a low doses of Cu⁺ and Fe³⁺ can change the permeability of bacterial cell membranes and break the antioxidant balance by consuming intracellular glutathione (GSH), which results in more conducive ROS production. Meanwhile, the photothermal heating can regulate the CuFeS₂ NPs close to their optimal reaction temperature (60 °C) to release more hydroxyl radical in low concentrations of H₂O₂ (100 µM). The proposed CuFeS₂ NPs-based antibacterial system achieve more than 99% inactivation efficiency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ MRSA), hyperspectral bacteria β-Escherichia coli (10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ ESBL) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10⁶ CFU mL⁻¹ PA), even at low concentration (2 μg mL⁻¹), which is superior to those of the conventional CuO NPs at 4 mg mL⁻¹ reported in the literature. In vivo experiments further confirm that CuFeS₂ NPs can effectively treat wounds infected by MRSA and promote the wound healing. This study demonstrates that excellent antibacterial ability and good biocompatibility make CuFeS₂ NPs a potential anti-infection nanozyme with broad application prospects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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15 pages, 5095 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Nanotube Coated Fibrous Tubes for Highly Stretchable Strain Sensors Having High Linearity

by Chenchen Li, Bangze Zhou, Yanfen Zhou, Jianwei Ma, Fenglei Zhou, Shaojuan Chen, Stephen Jerrams and Liang Jiang

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(14), 2458; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142458 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

Strain sensors are currently limited by an inability to operate over large deformations or to exhibit linear responses to strain. Producing strain sensors meeting these criteria remains a particularly difficult challenge. In this work, the fabrication of a highly flexible strain sensor based [...] Read more.

Strain sensors are currently limited by an inability to operate over large deformations or to exhibit linear responses to strain. Producing strain sensors meeting these criteria remains a particularly difficult challenge. In this work, the fabrication of a highly flexible strain sensor based on electrospun thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibrous tubes comprising wavy and oriented fibers coated with carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is described. By combining spraying and ultrasonic-assisted deposition, the number of CNTs deposited on the electrospun TPU fibrous tube could reach 12 wt%, which can potentially lead to the formation of an excellent conductive network with high conductivity of 0.01 S/cm. The as-prepared strain sensors exhibited a wide strain sensing range of 0–760% and importantly high linearity over the whole sensing range while maintaining high sensitivity with a GF of 57. Moreover, the strain sensors were capable of detecting a low strain (2%) and achieved a fast response time whilst retaining a high level of durability. The TPU/CNTs fibrous tube-based strain sensors were found capable of accurately monitoring both large and small human body motions. Additionally, the strain sensors exhibited rapid response time, (e.g., 45 ms) combined with reliable long-term stability and durability when subjected to 60 min of water washing. The strain sensors developed in this research had the ability to detect large and subtle human motions, (e.g., bending of the finger, wrist, and knee, and swallowing). Consequently, this work provides an effective method for designing and manufacturing high-performance fiber-based wearable strain sensors, which offer wide strain sensing ranges and high linearity over broad working strain ranges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biohybrid Nanofibers and Nanomaterial-Contained Fibers: Fabrication and Application)

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