Protein Corona-Mediated Mitigation of Cytotoxicity of Graphene Oxide

Abstract

Graphene is a single layer of sp(2)-bonded carbons that has unique and highly attractive electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties. Consequently, the potential impact of graphene and its derivatives (e.g., graphene oxide, GO) on human and environmental health has raised considerable concerns. In this study, we have carried out a systematic investigation on cellular effects of GO nanosheets and identified the effect of fetal bovine serum (FBS), an often-employed component in cell culture medium, on the cytotoxicity of GO. At low concentrations of FBS (1%), human cells were sensitive to the presence of GO and showed concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. Interestingly, the cytotoxicity of GO was greatly mitigated at 10% FBS, the concentration usually employed in cell medium. Our studies have demonstrated that the cytotoxicity of GO nanosheets arises from direct interactions between the cell membrane and GO nanosheets that result in physical damage to the cell membrane. This effect is largely attenuated when GO is incubated with FBS due to the extremely high protein adsorption ability of GO. The observation of this FBS-mitigated GO cytotoxicity effect may provide an alternative and convenient route to engineer nanomaterials for safe biomedical and environmental applications.

Strengthened epoxy resin with hyperbranched polyamine-ester anchored graphene oxide via novel phase transfer approach

“…Owing to these outstanding properties, graphene sheets have been widely applied in different fields such as lithium ion batteries [6][7][8][9], supercapacitors [10][11][12], biomedical materials [13][14][15], and composite materials [16,17].…”

Effects of the Presence or Absence of a Protein Corona on Silica Nanoparticle Uptake and Impact on Cells

“…29 Moreover, different reports have shown that nanoparticle impact is also affected by the presence or absence of a protein coating (or other coatings) on their surface, and that the presence of a corona in serum can mitigate the toxicity of the bare materials. [32][33][34][35][36] In order to further explain and to connect these different outcomes, we have studied how uptake and impact of silica nanoparticles in A549 lung epithelial cells are affected by the presence or the absence of a pre-formed corona in serum. When silica nanoparticles are exposed to cells in serum free conditions, nanoparticle uptake is higher, moreover cellular damage is observed and nanoparticles free in the cytosol can be found.…”

Environmental applications using graphene composites: water remediation and gas adsorption

“…These studies have shown the use of graphene in microbial fuel cells, 249 graphene as a scaffold for bacterial growth, 228 as well as the use of bacteria as a graphene oxide reducing agent. 250,251 Various in vitro toxicity studies have been conducted to determine the toxicity of graphene towards cancer [234][235][236][237][238] and human cell lines. 229,239 The cytotoxicity towards the cancer cell lines A549 was shown to depend largely on the cell culture medium components.…”

“…229,239 The cytotoxicity towards the cancer cell lines A549 was shown to depend largely on the cell culture medium components. 234,235 In particular it was noted that fetal bovine serum played a very important role, as it seems to coat the graphene sheets making them less toxic towards cell lines. 235 In a study by Gollavelli and Ling, the effect of graphene oxide and polyacrylic acid, uorescein o-methacrylate functionalized graphene oxide, on HeLa cells was determined.…”

“…234,235 In particular it was noted that fetal bovine serum played a very important role, as it seems to coat the graphene sheets making them less toxic towards cell lines. 235 In a study by Gollavelli and Ling, the effect of graphene oxide and polyacrylic acid, uorescein o-methacrylate functionalized graphene oxide, on HeLa cells was determined. 236 In this study it was shown that at low concentrations the graphene materials exhibit no noticeable cytotoxicity, however at concentrations above 40 mg mol À1 oxidative stress affects cell growth.…”