Seminars Archive

Tunable radical scavenging activity of CNTs through immobilization of molecules or sonication - (part I)

Abstract
Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) having tunable radical scavenging activity have been achieved by controlling the content of their structural lattice defects through the immobilization of anti-oxidant molecules or through the application of an ultra-sound (us) treatment. The immobilization of the naturally occurring anti-oxidant molecules, such as quercetin and α-tocopherol, leads to the establishment of strong interactions between these molecules and the carbon atoms of the outer surface of the CNTs, which in turn cause the formation of large amount of structural defects. In a similar way, the formation of lattice defects can be obtained through the application of an prolonged ultra-sound treatment on the CNTs. Considering that the variation of the defect concentration onto CNTs can amplify their radical scavenging properties, a method to capitalize the structural defects to formulate innovative nano-hybrids with excellent anti-oxidant activity is proposed.

References:
- Dintcheva, N. Tz.; Arrigo, R.; Teresi, R.; Megna, B.; Gambarotti, C.; Marullo, S.; D’Anna, F. Carbon, 2016, 107, 240-247
- Arrigo, R.; Dintcheva, N. Tz.; Guenzi, M.; Gambarotti, C. Mater. Lett. 2016, 180, 7-10