1. Academic Validation
  2. Encountering and Wrestling: Neutrophils Recognize and Defensively Degrade Graphene Oxide

Encountering and Wrestling: Neutrophils Recognize and Defensively Degrade Graphene Oxide

  • Adv Healthc Mater. 2022 Apr;11(8):e2102439. doi: 10.1002/adhm.202102439.
Shiyi Huang 1 Sijie Li 1 Yanlei Liu 2 Behafarid Ghalandari 1 Ling Hao 3 Chengjie Huang 1 Wenqiong Su 1 Yuqing Ke 1 Daxiang Cui 2 Xiao Zhi 1 Xianting Ding 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Institute for Personalized Medicine, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
  • 2 Shanghai Engineering Center for Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment Instrument, School of Electronic Information and Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
  • 3 Department of Chemistry, George Washington University, Washington D.C., 20052, USA.
Abstract

The boosting exploitation of graphene oxide (GO) increases exposure risk to human beings. However, as primary defender in the first immune line, neutrophils' mechanism of defensive behavior toward GO remains unclear. Herein, we discovered that neutrophils recognize and defensively degrade GO in a lateral dimension dependent manner. The micrometer-sized GO (mGO) induces NETosis by releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), while nanometer-sized GO (nGO) elicits neutrophil degranulation. The two neutrophils' defensive behaviors are accompanied with generation of Reactive Oxygen Species and activation of p-ERK and p-Akt kinases. However, mGO-induced NETosis is NADPH Oxidase (NOX)-independent while nGO-triggered degranulation is NOX-dependent. Furthermore, myeloperoxidase (MPO) is determinant mediator despite distinct neutrophil phenotypes. Neutrophils release NETs comprising of MPO upon activated with mGO, while MPO is secreted via nGO-induced degranulation. Moreover, the binding energy between MPO and GO is calculated to be 69.8728 kJ mol-1 , indicating that electrostatic interactions mainly cause the spontaneous binding process. Meanwhile, the central enzymatic biodegradation occurs at oxygenic active sites and defects on GO. Mass spectrometry analysis deciphers the degradation products are biocompatible molecules like Flavonoids and Polyphenols. This study provides fundamental evidence and practical guidance for nanotechnology based on GO, including vaccine Adjuvant, implantable devices, and energy storage.

Keywords

biodegradation; graphene oxide; myeloperoxidase; neutrophils.

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