Fluorinated Graphene Oxide: structure, morphology and its potential use in biological applications

The main objective of this work is to report a novel carbon nanomaterial that can serve as a theranostic agent. This thesis will elaborate on the structure, chemical functionalization, morphology, size distribution and biological applications of this material. Then, this thesis will discuss the limitations of this material and propose an optimization for these drawbacks. Fluorinated Graphene Oxide (FGO) is reported for the first time as a potential multimodal contrast agent, drug carrier as well as a photothermal therapy. FGO is a sheet like material with oxygen and fluorine functional groups present in the structure, a complete characterization of the material is offered in the following pages. Non-cytotoxic FGO exhibited paramagnetic behavior and was able to confer Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast. When irradiated with a Near Infra Red (NIR)-laser, FGO was able to exhibit photoacoustic contrast and serve as a photothermal therapy being able to ablate cancer cells in vitro. The limitation of FGO is its size (500-1000nm). Therefore, density gradient ultracentrifugation was successfully used to size select this material, resulting in a fraction containing sheet sizes around 200nm. Additionally, Fluorinated Graphene Oxide Nanoribbons (FGONRs) will be synthesized, characterized and evaluated as a possible optimization of FGO. However, after the systematic FGONRs, did not result in an optimization with respect to FGO. The ribbons exhibit a diamagnetic behavior and their length is comparable to the length of FGO.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Engineering

Grantor

Rice University

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Romero Aburto, Rebeca

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ajayan, Pulickel M.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Vajtai, Robert
• Grande-Allen, K. Jane
• West, Jennifer L.
• Mani, Sendurai A

• Functionalized graphene
• Theranostic nanomaterials
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents
• Photoacoustic imaging
• Photothermal therapy
• Hyperthermia

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1911/77513

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.rice.edu:1911/77513