Insufficient cell proliferation, cell migration, and angiogenesis are among the major causes for nonhealing of chronic diabetic wounds. Incorporation of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) in wound dressings can be a promising approach to promote angiogenesis and healing of diabetic wounds. In this paper, we report the development of a novel nCeO2 containing electrospun poly­(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) membrane for diabetic wound healing applications. In vitro cell adhesion studies, chicken embryo angiogenesis assay, and in vivo diabetic wound healing studies were performed to assess the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing potential of the developed membranes. The experimental results showed that nCeO2 containing PHBV membranes can promote cell proliferation and cell adhesion when used as wound dressings. For less than 1% w/w of nCeO2 content, human mammary epithelial cells (HMEC) were adhered parallel to the individual fibers of PHBV. For higher than 1% w/w of nCeO2 content, cells started to flatten and spread over the fibers. In ovo angiogenic assay showed the ability of nCeO2 incorporated PHBV membranes to enhance blood vessel formation. In vivo wound healing study in diabetic rats confirmed the wound healing potential of nCeO2 incorporated PHBV membranes. The study suggests that nCeO2 incorporated PHBV membranes have strong potential to be used as wound dressings to enhance cell proliferation and vascularization and promote the healing of diabetic wounds.

Proper management of nonhealing wounds is an imperative clinical challenge. For the effective healing of chronic wounds, suitable wound coverage materials with the capability to accelerate cell migration, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing are required to protect the healing wound bed. Biodegradable polymeric meshes are utilized as effective wound coverage materials to protect the wounds from the external environment and prevent infections. Among them, electrospun biopolymeric meshes have got much attention due to their extracellular matrix mimicking morphology, ability to support cell adhesion, and cell proliferation. Herein, electrospun nanocomposite meshes based on polycaprolactone (PCL) and titanium dioxide nanorods (TNR) are developed. TNR incorporated PCL meshes are fabricated by electrospinning technique and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, and X‐Ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. In vitro cell culture studies, in ovo angiogenesis assay, in vivo implantation study, and in vivo wound healing study are performed. Interestingly, obtained in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that the presence of TNR in the PCL meshes greatly improved the cell migration, proliferation, angiogenesis, and wound healing. Owing to the above superior properties, they can be used as excellent biomaterials in wound healing and tissue regeneration applications.

Graphene based materials have wide potential applications in biology, biomedical, agriculture environmental and biotechnology. Graphene Oxide (GO) is one of those materials and has a promising substance as antimicrobial agents. GO in this study was prepared by a modified Hummers method and was characterized by different techniques for confirmation of formation of GO. To study the antimicrobial activities of GO, it was tested against these microorganisms, one eukaryotic fungus (Candida albicans, C. albicans) two Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 41570 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) ATCC 25619) and two Gram positive bacteria (Streptococcus faecalis (S. faecalis) ATCC 19433 and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) ATCC 11632). Anti-microbial activity of GO was detected by spectrophotometer as indirect method to measure the growth and viable cell count as direct method. Readings were taken at successive incubated times. Results revealed that GO has antibacterial and anti-fungal activity against microorganisms used in this study. In conculosion the developed GO exhibit excellent antimicrobial property and GO affects more on Gram positive bacteria than Gram negative bacteria and fungi.

Graphene O xide (GO) is a promising material for various applications. The team prepared GO from graphite and studied the interaction with different microorganisms. Anti-microbial proper ties were detected for the prepared GO. Anti-microbial activities of GO was tested against one eukar yotic fungi (Candida albicans) two prokar yotic bacteria Gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli ATCC 41570 and Pseudomonas aer uginosa ATCC 25619) and two prokar yotic bacteria Gram-positive cocci (S treptococcus feacalis 19433 and S taphylococcus aureus ATCC 11632). S pectrophotometer was used to measure the growth as an indirect method, viable cell counting was used as direct method. Readings were taken at successive incubated times. Results revealed that GO exhibited stronger antibacterial and anti-fungal activit y against the used bacteria and fungi species.

The development of nano-composite materials is making a significant impact on modern technology due to their wide range of applications and their superior properties1. Several methods have been proposed and developed to prepare polymer nano-composites. Graphene nano-composites, in particular, have attracted the interest of researchers because of their excellent properties, such as high electrical conductivity, high thermal stability and excellent mechanical strength 2–3. Graphene, a two-dimensional carbon atoms structure, exhibits exceptional properties4–5. Incorporating these nano-fillers with high performance polymers results in a unique combinations of properties.This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of graphene and LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene)/graphene nano-composites with different weight ratios of graphene. Graphene was synthesized from graphene oxide, which was prepared by using modified hammers method. The obtained few layers of graphene were confirmed by different characterization methods such as FTIR, XRD, Raman spectroscopy and SEM. LLDPE/Graphene composites at different weight ratios of graphene, i.e. 1, 4, and 8 wt% were compounded in twin screw extruder. Extruded granules of LLDPE/Graphene materials were used in the preparation of nano-composites by compression molding. In this research, we used the LLDPE as the polymer matrix, because PE (polyethylene) is one of the most common plastic resins in the world and it is produced on a large scale in the State of Qatar by Qatar Petrochemical Company (QAPCO). LLDPE has grown most rapidly within the PE family due to its good balance of mechanical properties and process-ability compared to other types of PE. The effect of graphene ratio on the mechanical, thermal and electrical properties were investigated. LLDPE/Graphene composites with 4% graphene showed higher tensile strength and tensile modulus than the other graphene loading composites. Agglomeration was a problem in the composites with high wt% of the graphene which caused the reduction in tensile properties. Graphene marginally increased the melting temperature of the nano-composites whereas crystallization temperature, thermal stability and electrical conductivity were increased with increase of graphene loading. The results obtained showed that the graphene can increase the thermal stability of the polymer mixture. Increment of thermal stability is due to the high thermal stability of the graphene and the formation of phonon and charge carrier networks in the matrix. The electrical conductivity of LLDPE is 4.28 × 10− 11 and for nano composites is 9.2 × 10− 05. The high electrical conductivity of the graphene converts the LLDPE polymer insulator to an electrical conductor. Electrically conductive PE based composite materials can be used as electron magnetic-reflective materials, as well as in high voltage cables. The enhancement in mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of LLDPE/Graphene nano-composites achieved by melt mixing of graphene into the polymer can enable mass production of new and low cost novel materials with superior tensile strength, thermal stability and electrical conductivity.References1. Gossard Didier, Karkri Mustapha, Mariam A. AlMaadeed, Igor Krupa A new experimental device and inverse method to characterize thermal properties of composite phase change materials. Compos. Struct. 2015,133(1), 1149–1159.2. X. Huang, Z. Yin, S. Wu, X. Qi, Q. He, Q. Zhang, Q. Yan, F. Boey, H. Zhang. Graphene based materials: synthesis, characterization, properties and application. Smal. 2011, 18, 1876–1902.3. J.R. Potts, D.R. Dreyer, C.W. Bielawski, R.S. Ruoff. Graphene based polymer nanocomposites. Polymer 2011, 52, 5–25.4. T. Kulia, S. Bhadra, D. Yao, N.H. Kim, S. Bose, J.H. Lee. Recent advances in graphene based polymer composites. Prog. Polym. Sci. 2010, 35, 1350–1375.5. Du J, Cheng HM. The Fabrication, Properties and Uses of Graphene/Polymer Composites. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 2012;213:1060–1077.