Toxicity Studies on Graphene-Based Nanomaterials in Aquatic Organisms: Current Understanding

Abstract

Graphene and its oxide are nanomaterials considered currently to be very promising because of their great potential applications in various industries. The exceptional physiochemical properties of graphene, particularly thermal conductivity, electron mobility, high surface area, and mechanical strength, promise development of novel or enhanced technologies in industries. The diverse applications of graphene and graphene oxide (GO) include energy storage, sensors, generators, light processing, electronics, and targeted drug delivery. However, the extensive use and exposure to graphene and GO might pose a great threat to living organisms and ultimately to human health. The toxicity data of graphene and GO is still insufficient to point out its side effects to different living organisms. Their accumulation in the aquatic environment might create complex problems in aquatic food chains and aquatic habitats leading to debilitating health effects in humans. The potential toxic effects of graphene and GO are not fully understood. However, they have been reported to cause agglomeration, long-term persistence, and toxic effects penetrating cell membrane and interacting with cellular components. In this review paper, we have primarily focused on the toxic effects of graphene and GO caused on aquatic invertebrates and fish (cell line and organisms). Here, we aim to point out the current understanding and knowledge gaps of graphene and GO toxicity.

Design of graphenic nanocomposites containing chitosan and polyethylene glycol for spinal cord injury improvement

“…As many other studies have indicated, various factors, such as concentration, surface structure, size and shape, can affect the cytotoxicity of graphene-based materials. 49,55,56 Animals were exposed to lateral spinal cord damage at T10 through compression. The treatment group received a sufficient amount of therapeutic nanocomposites (GO-PEG + GO-CS).…”

Tuning the Reduction of Graphene Oxide Nanoflakes Differently Affects Neuronal Networks in the Zebrafish

“…Zebrafish have been previously used to study the impact of GRMs [38][39][40][41][42][43][44] and were exploited here to report that the degree of GO thermal reduction, which decreases the O/C ratio in the nanomaterials, induces diverse GRMs effects on the sensory-motor nervous system of vertebrates.…”

Metabolomics approach to study in vivo toxicity of graphene oxide nanosheets

“…Chung‐Der Hsiao et al assessed toxicity studies on graphene‐based nanomaterials in aquatic organisms. They showed that Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) elevation, lipid peroxidation, nutrient/oxygen depletion, and inflammation have been most widely recognized mechanisms for graphene‐based nanomaterials toxicity in aquatic organisms, although the particular mechanism for their toxicity has not yet been established (Malhotra et al, 2020).…”