Short-term inhalation study of graphene oxide nanoplates

Abstract

Graphene oxides possess unique physicochemical properties with important potential applications in electronics, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. However, the toxicity following inhalation exposure to graphene oxide has not yet been clarified. Therefore, this study conducted a short-term graphene oxide inhalation toxicity analysis using a nose-only inhalation exposure system and male Sprague–Dawley rats. A total of four groups (15 rats per group) were exposed: (1) control (fresh air), (2) low concentration (0.76 ± 0.16 mg/m³), (3) moderate concentration (2.60 ± 0.19 mg/m³), and (4) high concentration (9.78 ± 0.29 mg/m³). The rats were exposed to graphene oxide for 6 h/day for 5 days, followed by recovery for 1, 3, and 21 days. No significant body or organ weight changes were noted after the short-term exposure or during the recovery period. Similarly, no significant systemic effects of toxicological importance were noted in the hematological assays, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) inflammatory markers, BAL fluid cytokines, or blood biochemical assays following the graphene oxide exposure or during the post-exposure observation period. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the BAL cell differentials, such as lymphocytes, macrophages, or polymorphonuclear cells. Graphene oxide-ingested alveolar macrophages as a spontaneous clearance reaction were observed in the lungs of all the concentration groups from post 1 day to post 21 days. Histopathological examination of the liver and kidneys did not reveal any significant test-article-relevant histopathological lesions. Importantly, similar to previously reported graphene inhalation data, this short-term nose-only inhalation study found only minimal or unnoticeable graphene oxide toxicity in the lungs and other organs.

Keywords:

• Graphene oxide
• short-term inhalation study
• toxicology
• nose-only inhalation exposure system

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Grapheneall Co. for providing the valuable testing materials.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicting interests and nothing to disclose. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Industrial Strategic Technology Development Program (10059135, Development of Technologies on Safety Evaluation and Standardization of Nanomaterials and Nanoproducts) through the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology, Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy. E. M. F. received support from the NCNHIR Consortium and NIH/NIEHS grants U19ES019545, and RD83573801 and EPA grant R835738.