Interiorization of graphene oxide by tumor cells in culture: evaluation of mechanisms and effects

• Grant number: 18/22882-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2019
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Glaucia Maria Machado Santelli
• Grantee: Beatriz Fumelli Monti Ribeiro
• Home Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Graphene oxide is one of the derivatives of graphene and is a chemically modified compound that exhibits a highly oxidized form of graphite and is susceptible to chemical modifications such as the conjugation of dendrimers. Like graphene, it has good thermal stability, high electronic conductivity and high mechanical strength. In recent years, these nanomaterials have gained prominence in the scientific world due to their potential for applications in different areas of knowledge. For biomedical studies they are very interesting because they have potential to improve the diagnosis of diseases, including cancer. When functionalized with molecules or drugs they can serve as drug carriers and still be used in photothermal therapy. Previous studies conducted in our laboratory showed that graphene oxide and graphene oxide modified with dendrimers, after being internalized by the cell, affected the components of the cytoskeleton and generated morphological changes without interrupting the capacity of the cells to divide, even with these accumulated materials. Further studies are, however, required to more accurately assess cell biology in relation to the cytoplasmic presence of clusters and their possible effects and consequences.