Comparison of cytotoxicity of black phosphorus nanosheets in different types of fibroblasts

Abstract

BackgroundTwo-dimensional black phosphorus nanosheets (BPNSs) have recently emerged as a successive novel nanomaterial owing to their uniqueness in optical and electrical properties. Although BPNSs have found a wide range of biomedical applications, their biosafety is still a major concern to be addressed.MethodsIn this study, we have prepared layered BPNSs using liquid exfoliation procedure, and evaluated their physicochemical properties using Fourier Transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Zetasizer analyses. We have investigated potential cytotoxicity of BPNSs against three different types of fibroblast cells, i.e. mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3), primary cultured normal human dermal fibroblast (nHDF), and fibrosarcoma (HT1080). Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was carried out to assess cellular metabolic activity in cells whereas lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay was helpful to study plasma membrane integrity.ResultsOur salient research findings showed that BPNSs were polydispersed in solution due to aggregation. Toxic response of BPNSs against fibroblast cells was in the order, HT1080>nHDF>NIH3T3. The nanosheets reduced the number of cancerous cells with significant difference to normal cells.ConclusionsWe suggest that BPNSs can be considered for cancer treatment as they destroy cancerous cells effectively. However, a comprehensive study is required to elucidate other biological effects of BPNSs.

Cytotoxicity assessment of stabilized black phosphorus nanosheets tailored by directly conjugated polymeric micelles: theranostic effect against human breast cancer cells

“…The biocompatibility of black phosphorus is unclear. Some studies show that BP has no cytotoxic effect on cells [53][54][55] , but none of them incubated this material with cells for longer than 48 h. A more probable hypothesis is that the toxicity of black phosphorus is dependent on the time, dose and tested cell type 55,56 , which is in agreement with our results. The cytotoxicity of FLBP is most likely due to membrane disruption and oxidative stress-mediated metabolic activity reduction 57,58 .…”

Conductive Biomaterials as Bioactive Wound Dressing for Wound Healing and Skin Tissue Engineering

“…Excitingly, novel 2D inorganic conductive nanomaterials as black phosphorus (BP) and transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXene) have recently attracted great attention for their electroactivity and demonstrated great potential in biomedical applications for the biodegradability, photothermal effect, and antibacterial activities [90][91][92][93][94]. On the other hand, their applications are hindered by poor stability under ambient conditions or in liquid medium [81,95].…”

“…Black phosphorus (BP) as a 2D layered semiconductor material demonstrates novel electrical and optical properties including excellent charge carrier mobility, tunable bandgap, and remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency [ 81 ]. Considering the excellent photothermal effect [ 91 ] and biocompatibility [ 90 ], BP has been regarded as a promising candidate for biomedical applications [ 91 ], such as cancer therapy [ 138 ], antibacterial therapy [ 139 ], and wound healing [ 94 ]. However, BP nanosheets are commonly synthesized via liquid exfoliation with organic solvents and could not stand a long-term usage because they would degrade rapidly under the physiological environment.…”

Recent Advances in the Application of Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Neural Tissue Engineering and Regeneration

“…For instance, BP nanosheets have been reported to have a different cytotoxic response among three different types of fibroblast cells (i.e., mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH3T3), primary cultured normal human dermal fibroblast (nHDF), and fibrosarcoma (HT1080)), in which BP nanosheets are more toxic on HT1080 than nHDF and NIH3T3. 112 Lv et al 113 had reported that GO could not induce apoptosis and was not toxic at a low concentration (≤40 μg/mL) on SH-SY5Y cells. Another study showed that even at a low concentration (20 μg/mL) GO could significantly decrease the viability of PC12 cells.…”