Graphene-Like Layers from Carbon Black: In Vivo Toxicity Assessment

Abstract

Graphene-like (GL) layers, a new graphene-related material (GRM), possess peculiar chemical, colloidal, optical and transport properties. Considering the very recent promising application of GL layers in biomedical and bioelectronic fields, it is of utmost importance to investigate the toxicological profile of these nanomaterials. This study represents an important first report of a complete in vivo toxicity assessment of GL layers on embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results show that GL layers do not lead to any perturbations in the different biological parameters evaluated, indicating their good biocompatibility on a vertebrate model. The new insight into the biosafety of GL layers will expand their applications in nanomedicine.

Suitability of Nanoparticles to Face Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Genetic and Chromosomal Damage in M. galloprovincialis. An In Vitro Approach

“…Many studies have reported that CB also has a primary (direct or indirect) genotoxic effect on DNA [ 57 ], and few data are available regarding CB toxicity for bivalves, and these are limited to mussel hemocytes, where oxidative stress and ROS production occurs after in vitro and in vivo exposure [ 58 ]. On the other hand, it is also noteworthy that hydrophilic C-based NPs derived from a high CB destructuration can be regarded as toxicity safe in vivo, since they do not lead to any perturbations of different biological parameters on the vertebrate model Danio rerio [ 59 ].…”

Coating of Flexible PDMS Substrates through Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation (MAPLE) with a New-Concept Biocompatible Graphenic Material

“…Biological effects, mechanisms of the action and toxicity exerted by GRMs are almost unexplored and a clear categorization of the structure-activity relationships (SARs) is still far from being achieved. So far, only few publications on the biological effects of GRMs on living cells have been published [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. In addition, the wide variability of GRMs in terms of structure, composition and properties (even within the same GRM category) opens the door to controversial biological effects in both in vitro and in vivo contexts [ 41 ].…”

“…The quality and the characteristics of biomass-derived graphene-like materials are highly dependent on the precursor and the manufacturing technique. Graphene-like materials obtained from a controlled top-down demolition of a nanostructured carbon black (CB) in which they are embedded [ 51 , 52 ] are nanometric sized graphene stacked layers and exhibit peculiar chemical-physical properties and promising bio-safety (differently from the most GRMs) [ 40 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], forecasting feasible applications in many fields including bioelectronics, sensing and functional coatings. The synthetic approach offers control of the product’s relevant chemical-physical features, and it is suitable for bulk production.…”

“…Most interestingly, there is no evidence of S. aureus cell membrane leakage caused by GL, but the instauration of an intimate contact between the cells and the GL makes the material able to act as a bacteriostatic agent more than a cells toxic agent. In addition, the toxicological profile of GL has been assessed in vivo using embryonic zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) indicating their good biocompatibility on a vertebrate model [ 40 ].…”

“…Before and after deposition, the GL in water suspension were inspected by a biological survey toward target cellular lines (murine fibroblast NIH3T3, human keratinocytes HaCAT and the human cervical adenocarcinoma epithelial-like HeLa) to test for any perturbations in the different biological parameters evaluated, including the cytotoxic potential. Although in vitro and in vivo surveys have been already conducted on GL water suspensions on specific cells lines and vertebrate models [ 40 , 54 , 55 ], it has been widely demonstrated that the cellular response is cell line-dependent [ 57 ] and this outlines the importance of studying multiple cell lines for specific biological applications.…”