NEUROTOXIC RISK AND ADSORPTION PROPERTIES OF COARSE NON-FUNCTIONALIZED CARBON PARTICLES DERIVED FROM APPLE WASTE

Abstract

Aim. Carbon particles have been widely used in different technologies and have great potential for new biological application. Synthesis of carbon particles from agricultural waste using “green” principles is in the mainstream of biotechnology area and attract a great attention in biomedical application. Here, coarse carbon particles (CCPs) were synthesized using “green” principles from dry apple and used in the biological experiments without preliminary functionalization. Methods. Neurotoxic features of CCPs were analysed in isolated presynaptic cortex nerve terminals (synaptosomes) monitoring the extracellular levels of excitatory neurotransmitter L-[14C] glutamate and inhibitory one [3H]GABA, as well as the membrane potential. Results. Measuring the membrane potential of the nerve terminals, it was revealed an inadequate decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the potential-dependent dye rhodamine 6G in the presence of CCPs (1 mg/ml). This decrease was not due to membrane hyperpolarisation because CCPs did not change the extracellular synaptosomal levels of L-[14C] glutamate and [3H]GABA. CCP-induced decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the dye in nerve terminals can be due to its interaction with CCPs. Indeed, the ability of CCPs to interact with rhodamine 6G was shown in synaptosome-free incubation media. Conclusions. Therefore, CCPs did not possess neurotoxic signs, and so are biocompatible. In both experiments, i.e. without bio object and in biological system, CCPs were able to interact with fluorescent dye rhodamine 6G. In prospect, this feature of CCPs can be used in biotechnology after further investigation of dye interaction conditions.