Abstract
Graphene family nanomaterials (GFNs) are rapidly emerging for ocular applications due to their outstanding physicochemical properties. Since the eyes are very sensitive organs and the contact between the eyes and GFNs in eye drops, contact lenses, intraocular drug delivery systems and biosensors and even the workers handling these nanomaterials is inevitable, it is necessary to investigate their ocular toxicities and physiological interactions with cells as well as their toxicity mechanisms. The toxicity of GFNs can be extremely affected by their physicochemical properties, including composition, size, surface chemistry, and oxidation level as well as dose and the time of exposure. Up to now, there are several studies on the in vitro and in vivo toxicity of GFNs; however, a comprehensive review on ocular toxicity and applications of GFNs is missing, and a knowledge about the health risks of eye exposure to the GFNs is predominantly unspecified. This review highlights the ocular applications of GFNs and systematically covers the most recent advances of GFNs’ physicochemical properties, in vitro and in vivo ocular toxicity, and the possible toxicity mechanisms as well as provides some perspectives on the potential risks of GFNs in material development and biomedical applications.
Highlights
In the field of pharmaceutical and biotechnology sciences, nanotechnology is in high demand these days, leading to the desired products or therapeutic outcomes
The results revealed that while the surface charge could change the aggregation status of Graphene family nanomaterials (GFNs), it did not affect the cytotoxicity of PEG-graphene oxide (GO) samples alone, and the oxidation level had a critical effect on the GO toxicity
In this study, the gene expression profile was studied and the results demonstrated that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by GO-h-PEG-NH2 treatment was attributed to NDUFB9-mediated biological pathway.[43]
Summary
In the field of pharmaceutical and biotechnology sciences, nanotechnology is in high demand these days, leading to the desired products or therapeutic outcomes. Development of nanomaterials has increasingly assigned a large number of studies in academic and industrial groups to generate engineered advanced materials and biomedical systems.[1,2] nanomaterials may lead to toxic effects on the cells and subcellular organelles owing to their nanosize and high surface area. Since GFNs have a large π-conjugated aromatic structure and high specific surface area, they can be potentially applied in ocular applications, especially for ocular drug delivery systems. Utilizing graphene-containing medicines, the workers handling these nanomaterials, and the people who are using graphenebased equipment, it is necessary to enhance the knowledge of the ocular toxicity of GNFs. in this review, we looked at the recent advances in the physicochemical properties, ocular toxicity, and ocular applications of GFNs as well as considering the methodologies applied to perform these evaluations
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