Potential of Zinc Oxide-Graphene Quantum Dots and Zinc Oxide-Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Quantum Dot Nanocomposites as Neurotrophic Agents

Abstract

Over the past few decades, zinc oxide nanoparticles have also proven to be essential to a variety of scientific research sectors, including antimicrobial therapy, tissue engineering, bioimaging, biosensors, drug delivery, gene delivery, and bioimaging. There is an urgent need to establish and develop unique alternative treatment modalities to treat neurodegenerative disorders due to the shortcomings of the existing drugs. As a possible therapy for brain diseases and disorders, the ability of the nanoparticles to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as well as their reduced toxicity, solubility, and biodegradability has lately attracted attention. Scientists are quietly turning their attention to develop green synthesis of nanoparticles as an alternative to the physical and chemical techniques of producing the same. Existing literature has emphasized the use of ZnO for the potential treatment of cerebral ischemia and its neuroprotective properties. This work discusses the potential of ZnO prepared using Gynura cusimba extract and its nanocomposites with graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and its nitrogen doped variant, N-GQDs as neurotrophic agents, in accordance with our previous report on the use of GQDs and N-GQDs as neurotrophic agents. Pristine ZnO nanoparticles as well as composites were duly characterized by using several techniques to confirm the formation of the nanocomposites. Biological evaluation using the neurite outgrowth assay following the cell viability assay revealed that incorporation of GQDs and N-GQDs enhanced the neurite length in comparison to that of pristine ZnO with the nanocomposites of N-GQDs showing comparatively better results, corroborated by the real-time PCR studies as well.

Influence of Graphene-Based Nanocomposites in Neurogenesis and Neuritogenesis: A Brief Summary

“…Due to its close proximity to the growth cone and ability to direct neurites as they expand, graphene’s nanoroughness helps promote cell attachment. Given its ability to cross several physiological barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), G-NMs are helpful in alleviating CNS injuries which would otherwise be really hard to treat. , It is necessary to assess the biocompatibility and toxicity of graphene-based composite materials (G-CMs) prior to their application in preclinical and clinical research. , Function, size, surface roughness, concentration, and other factors are some of the factors that influence how poisonous the materials are. Moreover, G-NMs can be made more biocompatible by combining them with polymers and biomolecules.…”