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Fulltext Synthesis, Characterization, and Toxicity Assessment of Pluronic F127-Functionalized Graphene Oxide on the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Shamsi S, Alagan AA, Sarchio SNE, Md Yasin F

Int J Nanomedicine, 2020;15:8311-8329.
PMID: 33149578 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S271159

Background: In the current literature, there are ongoing debates on the toxicity of graphene oxide (GO) that demonstrate contradictory findings regarding its toxicity profile. As a potential drug carrier, these findings are very concerning due to the safety concerns in humans, as well as the dramatic rise of GO being excreted into the environment. Therefore, there is an imperative need to mitigate the potential toxicity of GO to allow for a safer application in the future.
Purpose: The present study aims to address this issue by functionalizing GO with Pluronic F127 (PF) as a means to mitigate toxicity and resolve the biocompatibility of GO. Although results from previous studies generally indicated that Pluronic functionalized GO exhibits relatively low toxicity to living organisms, reports that emphasize on its toxicity, particularly during embryonic developmental stage, are still scarce.
Methods: In the present study, two different sizes of native GO samples, GO and NanoGO, as well as PF-functionalized GO, GO-PF and NanoGO-PF, were prepared and characterized using DLS, UV-Vis, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and FESEM analyses. Toxicological assessment of all GO samples (0-100 µg/mL) on zebrafish embryonic developmental stages (survival, hatching and heart rates, and morphological changes) was recorded daily for up to 96 hours post-fertilization (hpf).
Results: The toxicity effects of each GO sample were observed to be higher at increasing concentrations and upon prolonged exposure. NanoGO demonstrated lower toxicity effects compared to GO. GO-PF and NanoGO-PF were also found to have lower toxicity effects compared to native GO samples. GO-PF showed the lowest toxicity response on zebrafish embryo.
Conclusion: These findings highlight that toxicity is dependent on the concentration, size, and exposure period of GO. Functionalization of GO with PF through surface coating could potentially mitigate the toxicity effects of GO in embryonic developmental stages, but further investigation is warranted for broader future applications.
Fulltext Effect of Cellulose Nanofibrils on the Properties of Jatropha Oil-Based Waterborne Polyurethane Nanocomposite Film

Amri MR, Guan CT, Osman Al-Edrus SS, Md Yasin F, Mohamad SF

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Apr 30;13(9).
PMID: 33946517 DOI: 10.3390/polym13091460

The objective of this work was to study the influence of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) on the physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of Jatropha oil-based waterborne polyurethane (WBPU) nanocomposite films. The polyol to produce polyurethane was synthesized from crude Jatropha oil through epoxidation and ring-opening method. The chain extender, 1,6-hexanediol, was used to improve film elasticity by 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 wt.% of CNF loading was incorporated to enhance film performance. Mechanical performance was studied using a universal test machine as specified in ASTM D638-03 Type V and was achieved by 0.18 MPa at 0.5 wt.% of CNF. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed to measure the temperature of degradation and the chemical crosslinking and film morphology were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results showed that when the CNF was incorporated, it was found to enhance the nanocomposite film, in particular its mechanical and thermal properties supported by morphology. Nanocomposite film with 0.5 wt.% of CNF showed the highest improvement in terms of tensile strength, Young's modulus, and thermal degradation. Although the contact angle decreases as the CNF content increases, the effect on the water absorption of the film was found to be relatively small (<3.5%). The difference between the neat WPBU and the highest CNF loading film was not more than 1%, even after 5 days of being immersed in water.
Fulltext Ternary Nanocomposite System Composing of Graphene Nanoplatelet, Cellulose Nanofiber and Jatropha Oil Based Waterborne Polyurethane: Characterizations, Mechanical, Thermal Properties and Conductivity

Amri MR, Md Yasin F, Abdullah LC, Al-Edrus SSO, Mohamad SF

Polymers (Basel), 2021 Oct 29;13(21).
PMID: 34771296 DOI: 10.3390/polym13213740

This work aims to evaluate the performance of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) as conductive filler with the presence of 0.5 wt.% cellulose nanofiber (CNF) on the physical, mechanical, conductivity and thermal properties of jatropha oil based waterborne polyurethane. Polyurethane was made from crude jatropha oil using an epoxidation and ring-opening process. 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 wt.% GNP and 0.5 wt.% CNF were incorporated using casting method to enhance film performance. Mechanical properties were studied following standard method as stated in ASTM D638-03 Type V. Thermal stability of the nanocomposite system was studied using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Filler interaction and chemical crosslinking was monitored using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and film morphology were observed with field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Water uptake analysis, water contact angle and conductivity tests are also carried out. The results showed that when the GNP was incorporated at fixed CNF content, it was found to enhance the nanocomposite film, its mechanical, thermal and water behavior properties as supported by morphology and water uptake. Nanocomposite film with 0.5 wt.% GNP shows the highest improvement in term of tensile strength, Young's modulus, thermal degradation and water behavior. As the GNP loading increases, water uptake of the nanocomposite film was found relatively small (<1%). Contact angle test also indicates that the film is hydrophobic with addition of GNP. The conductivity properties of the nanocomposite film were not enhanced due to electrostatic repulsion force between GNP sheet and hard segment of WBPU. Overall, with addition of GNP, mechanical and thermal properties was greatly enhanced. However, conductivity value was not enhanced as expected due to electrostatic repulsion force. Therefore, ternary nanocomposite system is a suitable candidate for coating application.
Fulltext Eco-Friendly Sustainable Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Adsorption of Heavy Metal Ions in Aqueous Environment

Yahaya Pudza M, Zainal Abidin Z, Abdul Rashid S, Md Yasin F, Noor ASM, Issa MA

Nanomaterials (Basel), 2020 Feb 12;10(2).
PMID: 32059384 DOI: 10.3390/nano10020315

The materials and substances required for sustainable water treatment by adsorption technique, are still being researched widely by distinguished classes of researchers. Thus, the need to synthesize substances that can effectively clean up pollutants from the environment cannot be overemphasized. So far, materials in bulk forms that are rich in carbon, such as biochar and varieties of activated carbon have been used for various adsorptive purposes. The use of bulk materials for such purposes are not efficient due to minimal surface areas available for adsorption. This study explores the adsorption task at nano dimension using carbon dots (CDs) from tapioca. The properties of carbon structure and its influence on the adsorptive efficacy of carbon nanoparticles were investigated by energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HrTEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results implied carbon present in CDs are good adsorbents for effective adsorption of heavy metal ions (lead) with removal efficiency of 80.6% in aqueous environment. The adsorption process as explored by both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms have proven favorability of the adsorption process. Langmuir form two and three have correlation coefficients R2 at 0.9922 and 0.9912, respectively. The Freundlich isotherm confirms CDs as having defined surface heterogeneity and the exponential distribution of active sites. The adsorption of lead unto CDs obeyed the second order kinetic model with coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.9668 and 0.9996 at an initial lead concentration of 20 mg/L and 100 mg/L, respectively. The findings validated the efficiency of CDs derived from tapioca as an excellent material for further utilization in the environmental fields of wastewater pollution detection and clean up, bio-imaging, and chemical sensing applications.
Fulltext Biocompatibility Study of Curcumin-Loaded Pluronic F127 Nanoformulation (NanoCUR) against the Embryonic Development of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abdullah SNS, Subramaniam KA, Muhamad Zamani ZH, Sarchio SNE, Md Yasin F, Shamsi S

Molecules, 2022 Jul 14;27(14).
PMID: 35889367 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27144493

Curcumin (CUR) has been studied for its biomedical applications due to its active biological properties. However, CUR has limitations such as poor solubility, low bioavailability, and rapid degradation. Thus, CUR was nanoformulated with the application of polymeric micelle. Previous studies of CUR-loaded Pluronic F127 nanoformulation (NanoCUR) were generally prioritized toward cancer cells and its therapeutic values. There are reports that emphasize the toxicity of CUR, but reports on the toxicity of NanoCUR on embryonic developmental stages is still scarce. The present study aims to investigate the toxicity effects of NanoCUR on the embryonic development of zebrafish (Danio rerio). NanoCUR was synthesized via thin film hydration method and then characterized using DLS, UV-Vis, FTIR, FESEM, and XRD. The toxicity assessment of NanoCUR was conducted using zebrafish embryos, in comparison to native CUR, as well as Pluronic F127 (PF) as the controls, and ROS assay was further carried out. It was revealed that NanoCUR showed an improved toxicity profile compared to native CUR. NanoCUR displayed a delayed toxicity response and showed a concentration- and time-dependent toxicity response. NanoCUR was also observed to generate a significantly low reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to native CUR in ROS assay. Overall, the results obtained highlight the potential of NanoCUR to be developed in clinical settings due to its improved toxicity profile compared to CUR.
Fulltext Stability, Toxicity, and Antibacterial Potential of Gallic Acid-Loaded Graphene Oxide (GAGO) Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strains

Shamsi S, Abdul Ghafor AAH, Norjoshukrudin NH, Ng IMJ, Abdullah SNS, Sarchio SNE, et al.

Int J Nanomedicine, 2022;17:5781-5807.
PMID: 36474524 DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S369373

BACKGROUND: The impetuous usage of antibiotics has led to the perpetual rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has garnered the interest of potential drug alternatives, including nanomaterials.
PURPOSE: The present study investigates the stability, toxicity, and antibacterial potential of gallic acid-loaded graphene oxide (GAGO) on several MRSA strains.
METHODS: The stability of a synthesized and characterized GAGO was monitored in different physiological media. The toxicity profile of GAGO was evaluated in 3T3 murine fibroblast cells and the embryonic zebrafish model. The antibacterial activity of GAGO against MRSA, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), and community-acquired MRSA; with or without Panton-valentine leucocidin gene (MRSA-pvl+ and MRSA-pvl-) was investigated through disk diffusion, CFU counting method, time-kill experiment, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) observation.
RESULTS: A stable GAGO nanocomposite has shown an improved toxicity profile in 3T3 murine fibroblast cells and zebrafish embryos, besides exhibiting normal ROS levels than graphene oxide (GO) and GA (gallic acid). The nanocomposite inhibited the growth of all bacterial strains employed. The effectiveness of the GAGO nanocomposite was comparable to cefoxitin (CFX), at ≥150 µg/mL in MRSA and MSSA. GAGO exhibited a significantly delayed response towards MRSA-pvl+ and MRSA-pvl-, with increased inhibition following 8 to 24 h of exposure, while comparable activity to native GA was only achieved at 24 h. Meanwhile, for MRSA and MSSA, GAGO had a comparable activity with native GA and GO as early as 2 h of exposure. HRTEM observation further reveals that GAGO-exposed cells were membrane compromised.
CONCLUSION: In summary, the present study indicates the antibacterial potential of GAGO against MRSA strains, but further study is warranted to understand the mechanism of action of GAGO and its resistance in MRSA strains.