Cytoprotective effects of graphene oxide for mammalian cells against internalization of exogenous materials

Hee Kyung Na, Mi Hee Kim, Jieon Lee, Young Kwan Kim, Hongje Jang, Kyung Eun Lee, Hyerim Park, Won Do Heo, Hyesung Jeon, Insung S. Choi, Younghoon Lee, Dal Hee Min

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

To date, graphene oxide (GO), an oxidized version of graphene, has been utilized in many research areas including bioapplications such as drug delivery and bioanalysis. Unlike other spherical or polygonal nanomaterials, GO exhibits a sheet-like structure, which in itself suggests interesting applications based on its shape. Here we show that GO can protect cells from internalization of toxic hydrophobic molecules, nanoparticles, and nucleic acids such as siRNA and plasmid DNA by interacting with cell surface lipid bilayers without noticeably reducing cell viability. Furthermore, the cytoprotective effect of GO against the internalization of extracellular materials enabled spatial control over gene transfection through region-selective gene delivery only into GO-untreated cells, and not into the GO-treated cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1669-1677
Number of pages9
JournalNanoscale
Volume5
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Feb 2013

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