Obtaining fluorescent labeling of graphene oxide-based material and functionalization with chemotherapeutic compound: an in vitro therapeutic approach.

• Grant number: 23/16232-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: April 30, 2024
• End date: April 29, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Glaucia Maria Machado Santelli
• Grantee: Beatriz Fumelli Monti Ribeiro
• Supervisor: Romana Schirhagl
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Netherlands
• Associated to the scholarship: 19/21841-0 - Evaluation of graphene oxide and doxorubicin interface in human Breast Cancer cells, BP.DD

Abstract

Nanomaterials, such as graphene oxide (GOX), are the subject of many studies. Due to its high surface area and the possibility to functionalize it with drugs, GOX has significant application potential in biomedicine. In previous studies we showed the capture and internalization of GOX, and GOX associated with the DAB-AM-16 and PAMAM dendrimers in different cell lines: MCF-7, Hs578T, BEAS-2B, LC-HK2 and HepG2. Next, viability experiments were carried out on cells exposed to different GOX particles, as well as morphological analysis of these cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (LSCM), real-time microscopy and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). We show the capture and internalization of GOX, and GOX associated with the DAB-AM-16 and PAMAM dendrimers in different breast cancer cell lines, focusing mainly on MCF-7 and Hs578T cells. The materials induced changes in cellular architecture, mainly in the organization of actin filaments, and showed association with nuclei. However, due to the ability of these materials to form aggregates, their internalization by cells may be impaired. The most important result of this study is the discovery that cells are capable of redistributing clusters of materials at each cell division to their daughter cells, or that it is characterized as a potential therapeutic tool for treatment at the cellular level. However, for a better assessment of the therapeutic potential of graphene oxide-based materials, it is important to use fluorescent labeling of nanoparticles, as well as functionalization with chemotherapeutic agents. In this way, we will contribute to future investigations into the mechanisms of internalization of these materials by cells and their possible contribution to cancer treatment.