Bulk-scale production of individual graphene sheets is still challenging although several methodologies have been developed. We report here a rapid and cost-effective approach to reduction of graphene oxide (GO) using hydroxylamine as a reductant. We demonstrated that the reduction of GO with hydroxylamine could take place quickly under a mild condition, and the as-produced graphene sheet showed high electrical conductivity, fair crystalline state, and admirable aqueous dispersibility without using any stabilizing reagents. A mechanism for removal of epoxide and hydroxyl groups from GO by hydroxylamine has been proposed. Comparing with other reported methods, the reduction of GO with hydroxylamine should be a preferable route to bulk-scale production of the graphene because it is simple, efficient, and cost-effective.

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Individual nanocomposite sheets of chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRG) and poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP), namely CRG/PVP, have been fabricated through a simple one-pot procedure. The structure and composition of the as-prepared CRG/PVP sheets were complementarily characterized using solid-state 13 C NMR, atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and other spectroscopic measurements, demonstrating that the PVP molecules were chemically grafted on the CRG surfaces. The electrical conductivity of the individual CRG/PVP sheets was measured at different levels of relative humidity (RH) using a conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) system, revealing that the electrical conductivity of a CRG/PVP sheet is sensitive to RH variation with a response time of a few seconds. Given the easy mass scale production and improved electrical conductivity, we envisage that the CRG/PVP nanocomposite sheets should have a broad spectrum of applications in electrical conductivity based sensors.

A tumor-targeted small molecule for dual-modal imaging-guided phototherapy upon near-infrared excitation.

Assembly from ultrasmall solution droplets follows a different dynamic from that of larger scales. Using an independently controlled microfluidic probe in an atomic force microscope, subfemtoliter aqueous droplets containing polymers produce well-defined features with dimensions as small as tens of nanometers. The initial shape of the droplet and the concentration of solute within the droplet play significant roles in the final assembly of polymers due to the ultrafast evaporation rate and spatial confinement by the small droplets. These effects are used to control the final molecular assembly in terms of feature geometry and distribution and packing of individual molecules within the features. This work introduces new means of control over molecular assembly, bringing us closer to programmable synthesis for chemistry and materials science. The outcomes pave the way for three-dimensional (3D) nanoprinting in additive manufacturing.

Adsorbents that are capable of controllable pollutants adsorption and release without secondary pollution are attractive in water treatment. Here, we propose eco-friendly CO2 as a trigger to switch the charge states and collapse–expansion transition of giant microgels consisting of hydrophilic acrylamide and hydrophobic 2-(diethylamino)­ethyl methacrylate and demonstrated the on–off, selective, and recyclable adsorption of anionic dyes on microgels under CO2 stimulation. Apart from easy-handling separation from the water by a simple filtration process, the maximum adsorption capacity is as high as 821 mg g–1, and the adsorption isotherms and kinetics obeyed Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second-order kinetics models, respectively. The anionic dye can also be separated from the mixture solution using CO2-treated microgels. Moreover, a wastewater treatment prototype with microgel-packed column was fabricated. Under continuous flow condition, the dye was removed and recovered by alternative bubbling CO2 and flushing with aqueous alkali (pH 12). Thus, this type of microgels with CO2-induced protonation–deprotonation transition can serve as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and efficient adsorbent for water purification applications.

Single-atomic-layered graphene quantum dots with lateral sizes of ∼5 and 20 nm are not photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) play an important role in cell–cell communication. TNTs have been predominantly reported among cells in monolayer culture. Using various imaging modalities, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), this work reports the finding of TNTs between cells within human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) spheroids. TNTs visualized by SEM are consistent in size and geometry with those observed in cellular monolayer culture. LSCM imaging of living spheroids confirms the presence of F-actin filaments within the TNTs, which are known to maintain nanotube integrity. In addition, LSCM revealed the distribution of F-actin fibers across the entire spheroid body instead of being confined within individual cells. Intracellular material transport by TNTs was tested in MSC spheroids treated with cytochalasin D (CytoD), a known actin polymerization inhibitor for disrupting TNT formation. CytoD treatment decreased the transport of cytosolic material by at least four-fold compared to untreated spheroids. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first direct observation of TNTs within MSC spheroids. These findings offer new physical insight into cellular interactions within spheroids, providing structural information for increasing interests in spheroid-based cell therapy.