Thrombus inducing property of atomically thin graphene oxide sheets

Graphene oxide (GO), the new two-dimensional carbon nanomaterial, is extensively investigated for potential biomedical applications. Thus, it is pertinent to critically evaluate its untoward effects on physiology of tissue systems including blood platelets, the cells responsible for maintenance of hemostasis and thrombus formation. Here we report for the first time that atomically thin GO sheets elicited strong aggregatory response in platelets through activation of Src kinases and release of calcium from intracellular stores. Compounding this, intravenous administration of GO was found to induce extensive pulmonary thromboembolism in mice. Prothrombotic character of GO was dependent on surface charge distribution as reduced GO (RGO) was significantly less effective in aggregating platelets. Our findings raise a concern on putative biomedical applications of GO in the form of diagnostic and therapeutic tools where its prothrombotic property should be carefully investigated.