ORCID Profile
0000-0002-8278-3912
Current Organisation
City University of Hong Kong
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-03-2018
Abstract: Graphene materials (GMs), such as graphene, graphene oxide (GO), reduced GO (rGO), and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), are rapidly emerging as a new class of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. This report describes their state-of-the-art and potential future covering both fundamental aspects and biomedical applications. First, the current understanding of the antimicrobial mechanisms of GMs is illustrated, and the complex picture of underlying structure-property-activity relationships is sketched. Next, the different modes of utilization of antimicrobial GMs are explained, which include their use as colloidal dispersions, surface coatings, and photothermal hotodynamic therapy agents. Due to their practical relevance, the ex les where GMs function as synergistic agents or release platforms for metal ions and/or antibiotic drugs are also discussed. Later, the applicability of GMs in the design of wound dressings, infection-protective coatings, and antibiotic-like formulations ("nanoantibiotics") is assessed. Notably, to support our assessments, the existing clinical applications of conventional carbon materials are also evaluated. Finally, the key hurdles of the field are highlighted, and several possible directions for future investigations are proposed. We hope that the roadmap provided here will encourage researchers to tackle remaining challenges toward clinical translation of promising research findings and help realize the potential of GMs in antimicrobial nanomedicine.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-11-2018
DOI: 10.1002/JBM.A.36286
Abstract: Proliferative chondrocytes are critical to realize regeneration of damaged epiphyseal growth plate. However, acquiring autologous replacement cells involves highly invasive procedures and often results in limited cell quantity. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a potential source of chondrogenic cells for the treatment of cartilage disorders and injuries. The temporal effect of transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) on the derivation of proliferative chondrocytes from MSCs in three-dimensional agarose was investigated by manipulating the duration of TGFβ3 and FGF2 treatment. The differentiation process was monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) as well as nanosensors containing two molecular beacons that target critical biomarkers for proliferative chondrocytes (i.e., collagen type-II messenger ribonucleic acid [mRNA] and Ki67 mRNA). The molecular beacon-based nanosensors were found to be comparable to qRT-PCR in measuring mRNA expression and thus providing a noninvasive mean to screen and monitor culture s les. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A: 895-904, 2018.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-12-2015
Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) is promising in the fight against pathogenic bacteria. However, the antibacterial activity of pristine GO is relatively low and concern over human cytotoxicity further limits its potential. This study demonstrates a general approach to address both issues. The developed approach synergistically combines the water shock treatment (i.e., a sudden decrease in environmental salinity) and the use of a biocompatible block copolymer (Pluronic F-127) as a synergist co-agent. Hypoosmotic stress induced by water shock makes gram-negative pathogens more susceptible to GO. Pluronic forms highly stable nanoassemblies with GO (Pluronic-GO) that can populate around bacterial envelopes favoring the interactions between GO and bacteria. The antibacterial activity of GO at a low concentration (50 μg mL(-1) ) increases from 99%) when complemented with water shock and Pluronic (5 mg mL(-1) ) at ≈2-2.5 h of exposure. Results suggest that the enhanced dispersion of GO and the osmotic pressure generated on bacterial envelopes by polymers together potentiate GO. Pluronic also significantly suppresses the toxicity of GO toward human fibroblast cells. Fundamentally, the results highlight the crucial role of physicochemical milieu in the antibacterial activity of GO. The demonstrated strategy has potentials for daily-life bacterial disinfection applications, as hypotonic Pluronic-GO mixture is both safe and effective.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 27-02-2004
DOI: 10.1021/JA031776D
Abstract: Using Nalpha,Nalpha-bis(carboxymethyl)lysine to react with FePt magnetic nanoparticles, we synthesized the FePt-NTA conjugate, which immobilizes Ni2+ ions and selectively binds to histidine-tagged proteins at concentration as low as 0.5 pM. This simple system serves as a useful alternative to existing protocols for protein separation and also acts as a versatile agent for transporting and anchoring proteins.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1039/C6NR05745D
Abstract: Carbon-based nanomaterials have a great potential as novel antibacterial agents however, their interactions with bacteria are not fully understood. This study demonstrates that the antibacterial activity of graphene oxide (GO) depends on the physiological state of cells for both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria. GO susceptibility of bacteria is the highest in the exponential growth phase, which are in growing physiology, and stationary-phase (non-growing) cells are quite resistant against GO. Importantly, the order of GO susceptibility of E. coli with respect to the growth phases (exponential ≫ decline > stationary) correlates well with the changes in the envelope ultrastructures of the cells. Our findings are not only fundamentally important but also particularly critical for practical antimicrobial applications of carbon-based nanomaterials.
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.COLSURFB.2014.11.019
Abstract: Drug-carriers, capable of releasing the drug at the target sites upon external stimuli, are attractive for theranostic applications. In recent years, photo-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention because of their potentials in providing spatial, temporal, and dosage control over the drug release. However, most of the relevant technologies are still in the process of development and are unprocurable by the clinics. Here, we demonstrated facile fabrication of these photo-responsive NPs by loading hydrophilic gold NPs within thermo-responsive liposomes. Calcein was used as a model drug to evaluate the encapsulation efficiency and the release kinetic profile upon heat/light stimulation. Furthermore, we characterized their size, morphology, phase transition temperature and stability. Finally, we demonstrated that this photo-triggered release might be due to the membrane disruption caused by microbubble cavitation.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 27-07-2004
DOI: 10.1021/JA0464802
Abstract: We report on the use of dopamine (DA) as a robust molecular anchor to link functional molecules to the iron oxide shell of magnetic nanoparticles. Using nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) as the functional molecule, we created a system with an M/Fe2O3-DA-NTA (M = Co or SmCo5.2) nanostructure, which possesses high stability and specificity for separating histidine-tagged proteins. The well-established biocompatibility of iron oxide and the robust covalent bonds between DA and Fe2O3 render this strategy attractive for constructing biofunctional magnetic nanoparticles containing iron oxide.
No related grants have been discovered for Chenjie Xu.