Introduction Research on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) occupies a prominent place in the field of biomedicine nowadays, being their putative toxicity and bioactivity areas of major concern. The green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using extracts from marine organisms allows the avoidance of hazardous production steps while maintaining features of interest, thus enabling the exploitation of their promising bioactivity. Objective To synthesize and characterize AuNPs using, for the first time, macroalga Cystoseira tamariscifolia aqueous extract (Au@CT). Methods Algal aqueous extracts were used for the synthesis of AuNPs, which were characterized using a wide panel of physicochemical techniques and biological assays. Results The characterization by UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Z-potential and infrared spectroscopy confirmed that Au@CT were stable, spherical and polycrystalline, with a mean diameter of 7.6 ± 2.2 nm. The antioxidant capacity of the extract, prior to and after synthesis, was analyzed in vitro, showing that the high antioxidant potential was not lost during the synthesis. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo toxicity was screened, by comparing two species of the genus Cystoseira ( C. tamariscifolia and C. baccata ) and the corresponding biosynthesized gold nanoparticles (Au@CT and Au@CB). Cytotoxicity was tested in mouse (L929) and human (BJ5ta) fibroblast cell lines. In both cases, only the highest (nominal) test concentration of both extracts (31.25 mg/mL) or Au@CB (12.5 mM) significantly affected cell viability, as measured by the MTT assay. These results were corroborated by a Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) test. Briefly, it was shown that, at the highest (nominal) tested concentration (31.25 mg/mL), CT extract induced significantly higher cytotoxicity and embryotoxicity than CB extract. However, it was demonstrated that Au@CT, but not Au@CB, were generally non-toxic. At sub-lethal (nominal) test concentrations (1.25 and 2.5 mM), Au@CT affected zebrafish embryonic development to a much lesser extent than Au@CB. In vitro wound healing assays also revealed that, while other experimental conditions did not impact cell migration, CT and Au@CT displayed a moderate positive effect. Conclusion Au@CT and Au@CB display promising features, desirable for biomedical applications, as wound healing.

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Since its revolutionary discovery in 2004, graphene— a two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterial consisting of single-layer carbon atoms packed in a honeycomb lattice— was thoroughly discussed for a broad variety of applications including quantum physics, nanoelectronics, energy efficiency, and catalysis. Graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) have also captivated the interest of researchers for innovative biomedical applications since the first publication on the use of graphene as a nanocarrier for the delivery of anticancer drugs in 2008. Today, GBNs have evolved into hybrid combinations of graphene and other elements (e.g., drugs or other bioactive compounds, polymers, lipids, and nanoparticles). In the context of developing theranostic (therapeutic + diagnostic) tools, which combine multiple therapies with imaging strategies to track the distribution of therapeutic agents in the body, the multipurpose character of the GBNs hybrid systems has been further explored. Because each therapy and imaging strategy has inherent advantages and disadvantages, a mixture of complementary strategies is interesting as it will result in a synergistic theranostic effect. The flexibility of GBNs cannot be limited to their biomedical applications and, these nanosystems emerge as a viable choice for an indirect effect on health by their future use as environmental cleaners. Indeed, GBNs can be used in bioremediation approaches alone or combined with other techniques such as phytoremediation. In summary, without ignoring the difficulties that GBNs still present before being deemed translatable to clinical and environmental applications, the purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the remarkable potential of GBNs on health by presenting examples of their versatility as nanotools for theranostics and bioremediation.

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