Title: Cytotoxicity studies on activated carbon prepared from plant derivatives

Biography:

1- (2003- current): Associate Professor of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. 

2- (1998- 2003): Assistant  Professor of Microbiology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. 

3- (1997- 1998): Lecturer of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Microbiology Department, University of Ain-Shams, Cairo, 11566, Egypt.  

4- (1993-1996): Ph.D. student at School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, 6150, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. 

5- (1992-1993): Assistant Lecturer of Microbiology.  My duties included postgraduate research, and teaching undergraduates Microbiology and Botany practical courses.

 6- (1986-1991): Demonstrator of Microbiology. My duties included postgraduate research, and teaching undergraduates Microbiology and Botany practical courses.

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) is a common adsorbent which is used in artificial and bioartificial liver devices. Carbon nanoparticles are extensively used in biomedical applications including biomedical devices. In the present work, toxicity studies were conducted to check the efficiency of carbon nanoparticles prepared from plant derivatives - date pits of Phoenix dactylifera fruits, Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seeds and Scenedesmus sp. (microalgae). To prepare carbon nanoparticles from plant derivatives, physical activation methods were used. Screening of cytotoxicity assay with carbon nanoparticles on hepatocytes namely, THLE2 (normal cells) and Hep G2 (cancer cells) were conducted. DLS and Zeta potential of carbon nanoparticles conducted to check the solubility and stability of the particles. In the biological assays, cytotoxicity test of the THLE2 cells and Hep G2 cells showed that viability remained closed to 100% when exposed to carbon nanomaterials. MTT in vitro analysis indicated that date pit AC had the least effect on the viability of both THLE2 and HepG2 cells compared to jojoba seeds and microalgae. Fluorescent microscopy confirmed date pits AC as the best choice to preserve liver cells’ integrity. The findings of this study proposes that the date pits-based AC can be introduced as a novel alternative biomaterial for the removal of protein-bound toxins in bioartificial liver devices