Graphene oxide affects in vitro fertilization outcome by interacting with sperm membrane in an animal model

Bernabò, Nicola; Fontana, Antonella; Ramal-Sanchez, Marina; Valbonetti, Luca; Capacchietti, Giulia; Zappacosta, Roberta; Greco, Luana; Marchisio, Marco; Lanuti, Paola; Ercolino, Eva; Barboni, Barbara

doi:10.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.042

Cited by 31 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Moreover, hydrophobic interactions between pure graphene and cholesterol tail can extract or remove cholesterol molecules from the membrane, leading to the membrane damage. For instance, Bernabo et al indicated that GO can interact with the cell membrane of swine spermatozoa, resulting in cholesterol extraction from the membrane [ 82 ]. From the theoretical simulation of biomembrane systems, cholesterol molecule extraction induces void formation and membrane deformation due to strong forces dragging from the graphene sheet, causing a loss of membrane integrity [ 83 ].…”

Section: Cell Viability and Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…GO then penetrated through the plasma membrane into the cytosol, generating ROS and causing an augmented number of apoptotic cells. Very recently, Bernabo et al assessed the viability of swine spermatozoa by exposing them to 0.5–50 µg/mL GOs for 1 to 4 h [ 82 ]. Cell death occurred at GO dosages ≥10 µg/mL after 1 h exposure.…”

Section: Cell Viability and Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Graphene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Cytotoxicity

Liao

Tjong

2018

IJMS

373

272

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Graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide have been widely considered as promising candidates for industrial and biomedical applications due to their exceptionally high mechanical stiffness and strength, excellent electrical conductivity, high optical transparency, and good biocompatibility. In this article, we reviewed several techniques that are available for the synthesis of graphene-based nanomaterials, and discussed the biocompatibility and toxicity of such nanomaterials upon exposure to mammalian cells under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Various synthesis strategies have been developed for their fabrication, generating graphene nanomaterials with different chemical and physical properties. As such, their interactions with cells and organs are altered accordingly. Conflicting results relating biocompatibility and cytotoxicity induced by graphene nanomaterials have been reported in the literature. In particular, graphene nanomaterials that are used for in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models may contain toxic chemical residuals, thereby interfering graphene-cell interactions and complicating interpretation of experimental results. Synthesized techniques, such as liquid phase exfoliation and wet chemical oxidation, often required toxic organic solvents, surfactants, strong acids, and oxidants for exfoliating graphite flakes. Those organic molecules and inorganic impurities that are retained in final graphene products can interact with biological cells and tissues, inducing toxicity or causing cell death eventually. The residual contaminants can cause a higher risk of graphene-induced toxicity in biological cells. This adverse effect may be partly responsible for the discrepancies between various studies in the literature.

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Section: Cell Viability and Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cell Viability and Toxicitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Graphene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Cytotoxicity

Liao

Tjong

2018

IJMS

373

272

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“…Importantly, they highlight that oxidative stress induced cytotoxicity can be hindered by decreasing oxygen functional group density on graphene derivatives as depicted in Figure 3C. This suggests that chemical functionalization of graphene derivatives may enable control of the interaction of GO sheets with physiological interfaces, [56] and the outcomes of this phenomenon, [57] all with interest not only for therapy but also biosensing/diagnostic applications. On the one hand, GO with higher oxidation degree led to increased accumulation of monocytes and an enhanced pro-inflammatory environment after intraperitoneal administration.…”

Section: Oxidation Degreementioning

confidence: 94%

Graphene Oxide as an Optical Biosensing Platform: A Progress Report

2018

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IntroductionAs a 2D material, graphene oxide (GO) is a lattice-like nanostructure of hexagonal carbon rings disrupted by oxygen-containing moieties. In 2012, we discussed the outstanding physicochemical properties offered by GO and how these features can be exploited in unprecedented optical biosensing systems. [1] In fact, GO can be processed in suspension, easily complexed with biomolecules, and offers a universal highly efficient long-range photoluminescence quenching agent-among other functional properties. Furthermore, we highlighted that GO photoluminescences with energy transfer donor/acceptor molecules exposed A few years ago, crucial graphene oxide (GO) features such as the carbon/oxygen ratio, number of layers, and lateral size were scarcely investigated and, thus, their impact on the overall optical biosensing performance was almost unknown. Nowadays valuable insights about these features are well documented in the literature, whereas others remain controversial. Moreover, most of the biosensing systems based on GO were amenable to operating as colloidal suspensions. Currently, the literature reports conceptually new approaches obviating the need of GO colloidal suspensions, enabling the integration of GO onto a solid phase and leading to their application in new biosensing devices. Furthermore, most GO-based biosensing devices exploit photoluminescent signals. However, further progress is also achieved in powerful label-free optical techniques exploiting GO in biosensing, particularly using optical fibers, surface plasmon resonance, and surface enhanced Raman scattering. Herein, a critical overview on these topics is offered, highlighting the key role of the physicochemical properties of GO. New challenges and opportunities in this exciting field are also highlighted.The ORCID identification number(s) for the author(s) of this article can be found under https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201805043.in a planar surface. [1] However, GO properties can be tailored according to its oxidation degree, lateral size, and number of layers, which was something little explored 6 years ago, and thus their impact on the overall biosensing performance was almost unknown. In addition, most of the biosensing systems based on GO were amenable to working as colloidal suspensions. Though, recent literature reports conceptually new approaches obviating the need of colloidal suspensions, which facilitates integration of GO-based biosensors into the solid phase and allows for their applications in new devices. Furthermore, the majority of the GO-based optical biosensing techniques rely on photoluminescent signals. However, further progress has also been achieved in powerful label-free optical techniques exploiting GO in biosensing. Here, we introduce a progress report on this exciting topic, underscoring challenges and opportunities in (bio)sensing accordingly. Number of LayersGO aqueous suspensions are highly stable in the form of mono layers. However, GO multilayer films can be built via

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“…In our previous experiments, we found that boar spermatozoa co-incubation with GO under capacitating conditions was able to induce a dose-dependent effect. In particular, at relatively high concentrations (10 and 50 μg/ml), it was able to induce a toxic damage expressed as decreased viability and loss of acrosome integrity, while in a definite range of concentrations (0.5 to 1 µg/mL), surprisingly, GO seemed to promote the fertilizing ability in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) assay 20 . Since this unexpected effect could be interesting either for the understanding of the basics GO interaction with living systems as well as for the development of possible technological applications in assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs), here we carried out further experiments by combining biological, chemical and physical approaches, with the aim of exploring the molecular mechanisms of this interaction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our laboratory, for the first time, we assessed the effect of GO on mammalian spermatozoa in terms of fertilizing ability 20 . Sperm cells are unable to fertilize the female oocyte immediately after ejaculation and they only reach their fertilizing ability after residing for hours to days (depending on the species) within the female genital tract 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Graphene Oxide increases mammalian spermatozoa fertilizing ability by extracting cholesterol from their membranes and promoting capacitation

Bernabò

Machado-Simoes

Valbonetti

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Graphene Oxide (GO) is a widely used biomaterial with an amazing variety of applications in biology and medicine. Recently, we reported the ability of GO to improve the in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in swine, a validated animal model with a high predictive value for human fertility. For that reason, here we characterized the mechanisms involved in this positive interaction by adopting an experimental approach combining biological methods (confocal microscopy analysis on single cell, flow cytometry on cell populations and co-incubation with epithelial oviductal cells), physical-chemical techniques (Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Thermogravimetric Analysis), and chemical methods (mass spectrometry and lipid measurement). As a result, we propose a model in which GO is able to extract cholesterol from the spermatozoa membrane without causing any detrimental effect. In this way, the cholesterol extraction promotes a change in membrane chemical-physical properties that could positively affect male gamete function, modulating sperm signalling function and increasing in this way the fertilizing potential, without losing the ability to physiologically interact with the female environment. In conclusion, these data seem to suggest new intriguing possibilities in engineering sperm membrane for improving assisted reproduction technologies outcomes, even in human medicine.

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Graphene oxide affects in vitro fertilization outcome by interacting with sperm membrane in an animal model

Cited by 31 publications

References 38 publications

Graphene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Cytotoxicity

Graphene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Cytotoxicity

Graphene Oxide as an Optical Biosensing Platform: A Progress Report

Graphene Oxide increases mammalian spermatozoa fertilizing ability by extracting cholesterol from their membranes and promoting capacitation

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