A natural human enzyme can biodegrade graphene, scientists from the Graphene Flagship have announced.
Degradation of pristine graphene occurs in the human body when interacting with a naturally occurring enzyme found in the lung, announced Graphene Flagship partners; the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Karolinska Institute and University of Castilla–La Mancha (UCLM).
Graphene based products are being designed to be interfaced with the human body within the Graphene Flagship, including flexible biomedical electronic devices. If graphene is to be used for such biomedical applications, it should be biodegradable and thus be expelled from the body.
To test how graphene behaves within the body, Alberto Bianco and his team at Graphene Flagship partner CNRS, conducted several tests looking at if and how graphene was broken down with the addition of a common human enzyme. The enzyme in question, myeloperoxidase (MPO), is a peroxide enzyme released by neutrophils, cells that are responsible for the elimination of any foreign bodies or bacteria that enter the body, found in the lungs. If a foreign body or bacteria is detected inside of the body, neutrophils surround it and secrete MPO, thereby destroying the threat. Previous work by Graphene Flagship partners found MPO to successfully biodegrade graphene oxide [Small, 20151; Nanoscale, 20182]. However the structure of non-functionalized graphene was thought to be more degradation resistant. To test this, Bianco and his team looked at the effects of MPO, ex vivo, on two graphene forms; single- and few-layer.
Bianco explains, “We used two forms of graphene, single- and few-layer, prepared by two different methods in water. They were then taken and put in contact with myeloperoxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. This peroxidase was able to degrade and oxidise them. This was not really expected because we thought that non functionalized graphene was more resistant than graphene oxide.”
Rajendra Kurapati, first author on the study, from Graphene Flagship partner CNRS, said, “The results emphasize that highly dispersible graphene could be degraded in the body by the action of neutrophils. This would open the new avenue for developing graphene-based materials.”
With successful ex-vivo testing, in-vivo testing is the next stage. Bengt Fadeel, Professor at Graphene Flagship partner Karolinska Institute, “Understanding whether graphene is biodegradable or not is important for biomedical and other applications of this material. The fact that cells of the immune system are capable of handling graphene is very promising.”
Prof. Maurizio Prato, leader of Work Package 4, dealing with Health and Environment impact studies, based at Graphene Flagship Partner University of Trieste, said, “The enzymatic degradation of graphene is a very important topic, because in principle, graphene dispersed in the atmosphere could produce some harm. Instead, if there are microorganisms able to degrade graphene and related materials, the persistence of these materials in our environment will be strongly decreased. These types of studies are needed. What is also needed is to investigate the nature of degradation products. Once graphene is digested by enzymes, it could produce harmful derivatives. We need to know the structure of these derivatives and study their impact on health and environment.”
Learn more: Biodegradable Graphene
The Latest on: Graphene
[google_news title=”” keyword=”graphene” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Graphene
- Bio-inspired materials' potential for efficient mass transfer boosted by a new twist on a century-old theoryon May 7, 2024 at 2:31 pm
The natural vein structure found within leaves -- which has inspired the structural design of porous materials that can maximize mass transfer -- could unlock improvements in energy storage, catalysis ...
- Wonder Material 'More Remarkable' Than Graphene Has Medical Potentialon May 7, 2024 at 8:55 am
Borophene is already thinner and more conductive than graphene, and scientists have altered it to make it even more special.
- Finnlines Adopts Graphene-based Hard Foul Release Hull Coatingon May 7, 2024 at 8:30 am
Finnlines has turned to a innovative graphene-based hard foul release hull coating to reduce fuel consumption and emissions ...
- Graphene Manufacturing Group Announces Closing of $3.47M Marketed Offering, Including Exercise In Full of the Over-Allotment Optionon May 7, 2024 at 6:13 am
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES BRISBANE, Australia, May 07, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX-V: GMG) (“GMG” or the “Company”) is pleased ...
- “Better Than Graphene” Material May Improve Implantable Technologyon May 7, 2024 at 1:55 am
The atomically thin version of boron, borophene, has been made chiral to enable it to interact in unique ways with biological units.
- Closing Bell: Black Swan Graphene Inc up on Monday (SWAN)on May 6, 2024 at 9:44 pm
Black Swan Graphene Inc opened trading today at $0.12 and closed at $0.12. Intraday prices ranged from $0.12 to $0.12. The price advanced 4.17% from the previous day's close of $0.12. Today across ...
- 'Better than graphene' material development may improve implantable technologyon May 6, 2024 at 7:01 am
Move over, graphene. There's a new, improved two-dimensional material in the lab. Borophene, the atomically thin version of boron first synthesized in 2015, is more conductive, thinner, lighter, ...
- Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd GMGon May 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Morningstar Quantitative Ratings for Stocks are generated using an algorithm that compares companies that are not under analyst coverage to peer companies that do receive analyst-driven ratings ...
- HydroGraph to Supply Pristine Graphene to Volfpack Energy for Solar Power Battery Storageon April 30, 2024 at 6:31 am
Its flagship product, fractal graphene, FGA-1, was chosen by Volfpack to be the base material of the supercapacitor design after Volfpack’s engineers determined that it outperformed materials ...
- Graphene at 20: why the ‘wonder material’ is finally coming goodon April 30, 2024 at 6:31 am
Strong, light and with amazing electronic properties, graphene has always been touted as the “wonder material”. But two decades after it was first isolated, James McKenzie believes the graphene is ...
via Bing News