Impact of emerging, high-production-volume graphene-based materials on the bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene to brine shrimp and fish liver cells

Abstract

With increasing commercialization of high volume, two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials comes a greater likelihood of environmental release. In aquatic environments, black carbon binds contaminants like aromatic hydrocarbons, leading to changes in their uptake, bioavailability, and toxicity. Engineered carbon nanomaterials can also adsorb pollutants onto their carbon surfaces, and nanomaterial physicochemical properties can influence this contaminant interaction. We used 2D graphene nanoplatelets and isometric carbon black nanoparticles to evaluate the influence of particle morphology and surface properties on adsorption and bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene, a model aromatic hydrocarbon, to brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) and a fish liver cell line (PLHC-1). Acellular adsorption studies show that while high surface area carbon black (P90) was most effective at a given concentration, 2D graphene nanoplatelets (G550) adsorbed more benzo(a)pyrene than carbon black with comparable surface area (M120). In both biological models, co-exposure to nanomaterials lead to reduced bioavailability, with G550 graphene nanoplatelets cause a greater reduction in bioavailability or response than the M120 carbon black nanoparticles. However, on a mass basis the high surface area P90 carbon black was most effective. The trends in bioavailability and adsorption were consistent across all biological and acellular studies, demonstrating the biological relevance of these results in different models of aquatic organisms. While adsorption is limited by surface area, 2D graphene nanoplatelets adsorb more benzo(a)pyrene than carbon black nanoparticles of similar surface area and charge, demonstrating that both surface area and shape play important roles in the adsorption and bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene to carbon nanomaterials.

On the Aromatic Stabilization of Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

“…Furthermore, PAHs have been explored in applications such as nano-sensors of oxygen, detection of nitroaromatic-based compounds, applications in energy conversion and molecular electronics, , catalysis, and charge mobility. , Thin films of PAHs have been explored in several surfaces (Al 2 O 3 , Au(111), Si(111) and Si(100), Cu(111), graphite, Ag(111), Ge(001), and Ge(111), nanoporous gold, an alloy of gold/silver­(Au/Ag), titanium dioxide, and graphene nanosheets) to study the morphology, structure, and stability of thin films to applications in materials science and engineering. − …”

Environmental Risk Assessment of Vehicle Exhaust Particles on Aquatic Organisms of Different Trophic Levels

“…These results indicate the different sensitivity of aquatic species, which strongly depends on the permeability and bioavailability of the toxins or their combination to the cells or organisms. Previously, the differences in the bioavailability of benzo(a)pyrene to brine shrimp were shown in a combined exposure with different types of carbon-based nanomaterials [60].…”

Competitive and/or cooperative interactions of graphene-family materials and benzo[a]pyrene with pulmonary surfactant: a computational and experimental study

“…For GFM-PAH mixtures inhaled and deposited in alveoli, a typical nano-bio interface is formed including the graphene, adsorbed PAHs, and PS elements composed of lipids and proteins, distinct from that of bare GFMs as previously studied [ 15 – 17 ]. Considering the high capacity of GFMs to adsorb PAHs, we hypothesized that a large number of PAHs could be transported by inhaled GFMs into alveoli, where their joint interactions with PS could induce the release of PAHs to increase their bioavailability [ 20 , 21 ]. On the other hand, GFMs adsorbed with PAHs may interfere with the ultrastructure and biophysical function of PS through competitive adsorption and exchange of PAHs and PS at the nano-bio interface.…”