Graphene oxide (GO) is an attractive nanomaterial for many applications. Controlling the functionalization of GO is essential for the design of graphene-based conjugates with novel properties. But, the chemical composition of GO has not been fully elucidated yet. Due to the high reactivity of the oxygenated moieties, mainly epoxy, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, several derivatization reactions may occur concomitantly. The reactivity of GO with amine derivatives has been exploited in the literature to design graphene-based conjugates, mainly through amidation. However, in this study we undoubtedly demonstrate using magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state NMR that the reaction between GO and amine functions occurs via ring opening of the epoxides, and not by amidation. We also prove that there is a negligible amount of carboxylic acid groups in two GO samples obtained by a different synthesis process, hence eliminating the possibility of amidation reactions with amine derivatives. This work brings additional insights into the chemical reactivity of GO, which is fundamental to control its functionalization, and highlights the major role of MAS NMR spectroscopy for a comprehensive characterization of derivatized GO.

2D transition metal dichalcogenide MoS2 nanosheets are increasingly attracting interests due to their promising applications in materials science and biomedicine. However, their biocompatibility and their biodegradability have not been thoroughly studied yet. Here, we investigated the biodegradability of exfoliated pristine and covalently functionalized MoS2 (f-MoS2). First, biodegradability of these nanomaterials was evaluated using plant horseradish peroxidase and human myeloperoxidase. The results revealed that the enzymatic degradability rate of MoS2 and f-MoS2 was slower than in the case of the simple treatment with H2O2 alone.In parallel, high biocompatibility of both pristine and f-MoS2 nanosheets was found up to 100 µg mL -1 both in cell lines (HeLa and Raw264.7) and primary immune cells. In addition, no immune cell activation and minimal pro-inflammatory cytokine release were observed in RAW264.7 and human monocyte-derived macrophages, suggesting a negligible cellular impact of such materials. Furthermore, the effects of degraded MoS2 and partially degraded f-MoS2 products on cell viability and activation were studied in cancer and immune cells. A certain cytotoxicity was measured at the highest concentrations. Finally, to prove that the

Safety assessment of graphene‐based materials (GBMs) including graphene oxide (GO) is essential for their safe use across many sectors of society. In particular, the link between specific material properties and biological effects needs to be further elucidated. Here, the effects of lateral dimensions of GO sheets in acute and chronic pulmonary responses after single intranasal instillation in mice are compared. Micrometer‐sized GO induces stronger pulmonary inflammation than nanometer‐sized GO, despite reduced translocation to the lungs. Genome‐wide RNA sequencing also reveals distinct size‐dependent effects of GO, in agreement with the histopathological results. Although large GO, but not the smallest GO, triggers the formation of granulomas that persists for up to 90 days, no pulmonary fibrosis is observed. These latter results can be partly explained by Raman imaging, which evidences the progressive biotransformation of GO into less graphitic structures. The findings demonstrate that lateral dimensions play a fundamental role in the pulmonary response to GO, and suggest that airborne exposure to micrometer‐sized GO should be avoided in the production plant or applications, where aerosolized dispersions are likely to occur. These results are important toward the implementation of a safer‐by‐design approach for GBM products and applications, for the benefit of workers and end‐users.

Graphene oxide (GO) is constituted of various oxygen-containing functionalities, primarily epoxides and hydroxyl groups on the basal plane, with a very low amount of carbonyl, quinone, carboxylic acid, phenol, and lactone functions at the edges. The high chemical reactivity of these oxygenated groups makes functionalization difficult to control as different reactions can occur concomitantly. In this study we have investigated the reactivity of GO towards orthogonal reactions to selectively functionalize the hydroxyl groups, which are present in a high amount. We explored both the esterification and the Williamson reaction. Our strategies present the main advantage to occur in mild conditions, thus preserving the intrinsic properties of GO, whereas most reactions reported in literature require relatively harsh conditions, leading to (partial) reduction, and/or are not chemoselective. We have also extended our study to the ketones and examined their derivatization by the Wittig reaction. This work has allowed developing two facile methods for the covalent derivatization of the hydroxyl groups in mild conditions, while GO was not reactive towards the Wittig reaction, probably due to the low amount of ketones. Overall, this work leads to a better understanding of the reactivity of GO for controlled derivatization. This opens promising perspectives for multi-functionalization of GO in order to design graphene-based nanomaterials endowed of multiple properties.

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Abstract Thanks to their outstanding physicochemical properties, graphene and its derivatives are interesting nanomaterials with a high potential in several fields. Graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide, however, differ partially in their characteristics due to their diverse surface composition. Those differences influence the chemical reactivity of these materials. In the following chapter the reactivity and main functionalization reactions performed on graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide are discussed. A part is also dedicated to the main analytical techniques used for characterization of these materials. Functionalization of graphene and its derivatives is highly important to modulate their characteristics and design graphene-based conjugates with novel properties. Functionalization can be covalent by forming strong and stable bonds with the graphene surface, or non-covalent via π–π, electrostatic, hydrophobic, and/or van der Waals interactions. Both types of functionalization are currently exploited.

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Carbon-based materials (CBMs), such as graphene, nanodiamonds, carbon fibers, and carbon dots, have attracted a great deal scientific attention due to their potential as biomedical tools. Following exposure, particularly intravenous injection, these nanomaterials can be recognized by immune cells. Such interactions could be modulated by the different physicochemical properties of the materials (e.g. structure, size, and chemical functions), by either stimulating or suppressing the immune response. However, a harmonized cutting-edge approach for the classification of these materials based not only on their physicochemical parameters but also their immune properties has been missing. The European Commission-funded G-IMMUNOMICS and CARBO-IMmap projects aimed to fill this gap, developing a functional pipeline for the qualitative and quantitative immune characterization of graphene, graphene-related materials (GRMs), and other CBMs. The goal was to open breakthrough perspectives for the definition of the immune profiles of these materials. Here, we summarize our methodological approach, key results, and the necessary multidisciplinary expertise ranging across various fields, from material chemistry to engineering, immunology, toxicology, and systems biology. G-IMMUNOMICS, as a partnering project of the Graphene Flagship, the largest scientific research initiative on graphene worldwide, also complemented the studies performed in the Flagship on health and environmental impact of GRMs. Finally, we present the nanoimmunity-by-design concept, developed within the projects, which can be readily applied to other 2D materials. Overall, the G-IMMUNOMICS and CARBO-IMmap projects have provided new insights on the immune impact of GRMs and CBMs, thus laying the foundation for their safe use and future translation in medicine.