Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Activity Evaluation of Graphene Oxide Nano Composites

Hussein Abood Idham

doi:10.51699/cajmns.v7i4.3382

Authors

Hussein Abood Idham Directorate General of Education Kirkuk, Kirkuk, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51699/cajmns.v7i4.3382

Keywords:

Nanotechnology, Graphene Oxide (GO), Nanocomposites, Candida Albicans

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) Nano composites can be described as a superior generation of hybrid nanomaterial's with remarkable structural, mechanical, and biological properties. In the current study, the synthesis of graphene oxide nanoparticles was performed through modified Hummers’ method from graphite. Afterward, some new functionalized Nano composites (namely H₅, H₆, H₇, H₉, and H₁₀) were fabricated through ultrasonic dispersion and chemical condensation reaction with specific aromatic amine compounds and drug molecules such as mefenamic acid and theophylline. Structural, compositional, and morphological analyses were performed utilizing FT-IR, XRD, FESEM, and TEM techniques. FT-IR spectra indicated that there was a successful functionalization through covalent and non-covalent bonds based on the presence of characteristic vibrations corresponding to hydroxyl, carbonyl, amide, and azomethine groups. The XRD patterns revealed the chemical reduction of GO to rGO sheets due to the disappearance of the reflection peak at 2θ ≈ 10° along with the appearance of well-defined diffractions of (002) planes at 2θ ≈ 26.15°–27.18°, The degree of crystalline ordering was also noted. FESEM and TEM images revealed uniform distribution of well-dispersed drug nanoparticles in the form of ultrafine particles (15.28–39.99 nm) deposited on folded high surface area graphene sheets. Antifungal efficiency was determined by using Candida albicans against which antifungal activity was assessed through the agar well diffusion assay. Nano composites H₆, H₇, and H₉ displayed prominent antifungal activity at lower concentrations (25 mg/mL) and showed inhibition zones (up to 18.1 mm) which were either better than or equal to the positive control (Gentamycin, 15.3–17.1 mm). It was seen that the increase in concentration resulted in the reduction in efficiency due to steric hindrance and increased viscosity.

References

R. P. Feynman, “There’s plenty of room at the bottom,” Engineering and Science, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 22–36, 1960.

S. A. El-Lakany, E. A. Kamoun, A. I. Abd-Elhamid, R. G. Aly, W. M. Samy, and N. A. Elgindy, “Graphene oxide crosslinked-zein nanofibrous scaffolds for prominent Cu-adsorption as tissue regeneration promoters in diabetic rats: Nanofibers optimization and in vivo assessment,” International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 590, Art. no. 119919, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119919.

Z. P. Rad, J. Mokhtari, and M. Abbasi, “Calendula officinalis extract/PCL/Zein/Gum arabic nanofibrous bio-composite scaffolds via suspension, two-nozzle and multilayer electrospinning for skin tissue engineering,” International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, vol. 135, pp. 530–543, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.05.204.

K. Yang, S. Zhang, G. Zhang, X. Sun, S.-T. Lee, and Z. Liu, “Graphene in mice: Ultrahigh in vivo tumor uptake and efficient photothermal therapy,” Nano Letters, vol. 10, no. 9, pp. 3318–3323, 2010, doi: 10.1021/nl100996u.

R. K. Thapa, J. Y. Choi, B. K. Poudel, H.-G. Choi, C. S. Yong, and J. O. Kim, “Receptor-targeted, drug-loaded, functionalized graphene oxides for chemotherapy and photothermal therapy,” International Journal of Nanomedicine, vol. 11, pp. 2799–2813, 2016, doi: 10.2147/IJN.S105401.

Z. Liu, J. Zhang, Y. Tian, L. Zhang, X. Han, Q. Wang, and W. Cheng, “Targeted delivery of reduced graphene oxide nanosheets using multifunctional ultrasound nanobubbles for visualization and enhanced photothermal therapy,” International Journal of Nanomedicine, vol. 13, pp. 7859–7872, 2018, doi: 10.2147/IJN.S181268.

I. Hussain, A. Hussain, A. Ahmad, H. Rahman, M. F. Alajmi, F. Ahmed, et al., “New generation graphene oxide for removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,” in Graphene-Based Nanotechnologies for Energy and Environmental Applications, pp. 241–266. Elsevier, 2019, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-815811-1.00014-4.

A. Ahmad, D. Lokhat, and M. Rafatullah, “Survey of graphene-based nanotechnologies,” in Graphene-Based Nanotechnologies for Energy and Environmental Applications, pp. 23–39. Elsevier, 2019, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-815811-1.00002-8.

P. Shandilya, D. Mittal, M. Soni, P. Raizada, J. H. Lim, D. Y. Jeong, et al., “Islanding of EuVO4 on high-dispersed fluorine doped few layered graphene sheets for efficient photocatalytic mineralization of phenolic compounds and bacterial disinfection,” Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, vol. 93, pp. 528–542, 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.jtice.2018.08.034.

P. Singh, P. Shandilya, P. Raizada, A. Sudhaik, A. Rahmani-Sani, and A. Hosseini-Bandegharaei, “Review on various strategies for enhancing photocatalytic activity of graphene based nanocomposites for water purification,” Arabian Journal of Chemistry, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 3498–3520, 2020, doi: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.12.001.

K. I. Bolotin, K. J. Sikes, Z. Jiang, M. Klima, G. Fudenberg, J. Hone, et al., “Ultrahigh electron mobility in suspended graphene,” Solid State Communications, vol. 146, no. 9–10, pp. 351–355, 2008, doi: 10.1016/j.ssc.2008.02.024.

C. Lee, X. Wei, J. W. Kysar, and J. Hone, “Measurement of the elastic properties and intrinsic strength of monolayer graphene,” Science, vol. 321, no. 5887, pp. 385–388, 2008, doi: 10.1126/science.1157996.

Y. Jiang, Q. Zhang, F. Li, and L. Niu, “Glucose oxidase and graphene bionanocomposite bridged by ionic liquid unit for glucose biosensing application,” Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, vol. 161, no. 1, pp. 728–733, 2012, doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2011.11.023.

C. V. Pham, M. Eck, and M. Krueger, “Thiol functionalized reduced graphene oxide as a base material for novel graphene-nanoparticle hybrid composites,” Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 231, pp. 146–154, 2013, doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.07.007.

M. D. Stoller, S. Park, Y. Zhu, J. An, and R. S. Ruoff, “Graphene-based ultracapacitors,” Nano Letters, vol. 8, no. 10, pp. 3498–3502, 2008, doi: 10.1021/nl802558y.

A. A. Balandin, S. Ghosh, W. Bao, I. Calizo, D. Teweldebrhan, F. Miao, et al., “Superior thermal conductivity of single-layer graphene,” Nano Letters, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 902–907, 2008, doi: 10.1021/nl0731872.

Y. Zhu, S. Murali, W. Cai, X. Li, J. W. Suk, J. R. Potts, and R. S. Ruoff, “Graphene and graphene oxide: Synthesis, properties, and applications,” Advanced Materials, vol. 22, no. 35, pp. 3906–3924, 2010, doi: 10.1002/adma.201001068.

B. S. Dash, G. Jose, Y.-J. Lu, and J.-P. Chen, “Functionalized reduced graphene oxide as a versatile tool for cancer therapy,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 22, no. 6, Art. no. 2989, 2021, doi: 10.3390/ijms22062989.

C. Shan, H. Yang, D. Han, Q. Zhang, A. Ivaska, and L. Niu, “Electrochemical determination of NADH and ethanol based on ionic liquid-functionalized graphene,” Biosensors and Bioelectronics, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 1504–1508, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2009.11.009.

S. Liu, T. H. Zeng, M. Hofmann, E. Burcombe, J. Wei, R. Jiang, et al., “Antibacterial activity of graphite, graphite oxide, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide: Membrane and oxidative stress,” ACS Nano, vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 6971–6980, 2011, doi: 10.1021/nn202451x.

S. Gurunathan, J. W. Han, A. A. Dayem, V. Eppakayala, J. H. Kim, et al., “Oxidative stress-mediated antibacterial activity of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa,” International Journal of Nanomedicine, vol. 7, pp. 5901–5914, 2012, doi: 10.2147/IJN.S37397.

A. S. Eddin Mohamed and G. H. AbdulWahhab, “Preparation and characterization of nano graphene oxide-decorated ampicillin and pefloxacin,” in E3S Web of Conferences, vol. 621, Art. no. 02008, 2025, doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/202562102008.