Graphene oxide nanoribbons as nanomaterial for bone regeneration: Effects on cytotoxicity, gene expression and bactericidal effect

- Graphene oxide nanoribbons (O-GNR) were obtained from multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
- High amounts of O-GNR were evaluated to identify the dose-dependence for biomedical applications
- O-GNR neither showed cytotoxic effects nor promoted gene expression alteration up to a concentration of 100 μg mL− 1.
- O-GNR promoted 50% of S. aureus and E. coli death at 100 μg mL− 1.

Graphene oxide nanoribbons (O-GNR) surges as an interesting nanomaterial for biomedical applications due to feasibility to incorporate functional groups and possible bactericidal properties. Herein, high concentrations of O-GNR were biologically evaluated using human osteoblast cells and gram positive and negative bacteria. Briefly, our goal were to evaluate: (1) synthetic pathway, (2) characterization and (3) effects of O-GNR composition and structural factors as a new approach for biomedical applications. For this, O-GNR were produced combining chemical vapor deposition and oxygen plasma treatment of multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Then, we analyzed the bioactivity, cell viability, osteogenic differentiation, matrix mineralization, mRNA levels of the five genes related direct to bone repair and bactericidal effect of high concentrations of O-GNR (10 μg mL− 1, 100 μg mL− 1, 200 μg mL− 1 and 300 μg mL− 1). Impressively, O-GNR showed no cytotoxic effects up to a concentration of 100 μg mL− 1 and no gene expression alteration when used in its dose. We also observed that S. aureus and E. coli bacteria are susceptible to damage when incubated with 100 μg mL− 1 of O-GNR, showing approximately 50% of bacterial death. We consider that O-GNR displays attractive properties when used at a suitable dose, displaying bactericidal effect and apparently lacking to cause damages in the bone repair process.