Graphene nanosheets were effectively functionalized by in-situ deposition of hydroxyaptite through a facile chemical precipitation method. Prior to grafting of hydroxyapatite, chemically modified graphene nanosheets were obtained by the reduction of graphene oxide in presence of ethylenediamine. The resulting hydroxyapatite functionalized graphene nanosheets were characterized by attenuated total reflection IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. These characterization techniques revealed the successful grafting of hydroxyapatite over well exfoliated graphene nanosheets without destroying their structure.

The nanohybrids composed of silver nanoparticles and aromatic polyamide functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) is successfully synthesized and tested for their antibacterial activity against different pathogens. Prior to deposition of silver nanoparticles, acid treated MWCNTs (MWCNTs-COOH) were successively reacted with p-phenylenediamine and methylmethacrylate to form series of NH 2 -terminated aromatic polyamide dendrimers on the surface of MWCNTs through Michael addition and amidation. Existence of high abundance of amine groups on the surface of functionalized MWCNTs (f-MWCNTs) provided sites for formation of silver nanoparticles by the reduction of aqueous solution of AgNO 3 . The silver nanoparticles formed in the resulted f-MWCNTs-Ag nanohybrids were determined to be face centered cubic (fcc) symmetry. The structure and nature of f-MWCNTs and f-MWCNTs-Ag nanohybrids were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The dispersion state of f-MWCNTs and immobilization of silver nanoparticles on the surface of f-MWCNTs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Elemental composition of f-MWCNTs-Ag nanohybrids was determined by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The antimicrobial activity of fMWCNTs-Ag nanohybrids were estimated against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureu and compared with MWCNTs-COOH and f-MWCNTs. The results indicate that functionalization of MWCNTs with aromatic polyamide dendrimers and successive deposition of Ag nanoparticles could play an important role in the enhancement of antimicrobial activity.

BACKGROUND: There has been a recent surge of interest in the synthesis and applications of electroactive polymers with incorporated metal nanoparticles. These hybrid systems are expected to display synergistic properties between the conjugated polymers and the metal nanoparticles, making them potential candidates for applications in sensors and electronic devices. RESULTS:Composites of polyaniline derivatives -polyaniline, poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) and poly(aniline-2,5dimethoxyaniline) -and silver nanoparticles were prepared through simultaneous polymerization of aniline derivative and reduction of AgNO 3 in the presence of poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PSS). We used AgNO 3 as one of the initial components (1) to form the silver nanoparticles and (2) as an oxidizing agent for initiation of the polymerization reaction. UV-visible spectra of the synthesized nanocomposites reveal the synchronized formation of silver nanoparticles and polymer matrix. The morphology of the silver nanoparticles and degree of their dispersion in the nanocomposites were characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry results indicate an enhancement of the thermal stability of the nanocomposites compared to the pure polymers. The electrical conductivity of the nanocomposites is in the range 10 −4 to 10 −2 S cm −1 .CONCLUSION: A single-step process for the synthesis of silver nanoparticle-polyaniline derivative nanocomposites doped with PSS has been demonstrated. The approach in which silver nanoparticles are formed simultaneously during the polymerization process results in a good dispersion of the nanoparticles in the conductive polymer matrix.

In the present study, hydroxyapatite (HA) was successfully grafted to carboxylated carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanosheets. The HA grafted CNTs and HA-graphene nanosheets were characterized using FT-IR, TGA, SEM and X-ray diffraction. The HA grafted CNTs and graphene nanosheets (CNTs-HA and Gr-HA) were further used to examine the proliferation and differentiation rate of temperature-sensitive human fetal osteoblastic cell line (hFOB 1.19). Total protein assays and western blot analysis of osteocalcin expression were used as indicators of cell proliferation and differentiation. Results indicated that hFOB 1.19 cells proliferate and differentiate well in treatment media containing CNTs-HA and graphene-HA. Both CNTs-HA and graphene-HA could be promising nanomaterials for use as scaffolds in bone tissue engineering.

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