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Cytotoxicity assessment of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells on screen-printed graphene-carbon paste substrate
U Waiwijit1, W Kandhavivorn2, B Oonkhanond2
1Nanoelectronics and MEMS Laboratory, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center, 112 Thailand Science Park, Phahon Yothin Road, Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
Abstract:
Graphene is a novel carbon-based material widely studied in bio-electrochemical fields because of its high electrical conductivity and excellent electrocatalytic activity. However, its biological applications have been limited due to the lack of understanding of its compatibility with numerous biological entities. In this paper, cytoxicities of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (MDA cells) on carbon paste (CP) and graphene-carbon paste (GCP) substrates are assessed. GCP was prepared by mixing graphene powder into carbon paste with different graphene contents. Cytotoxic effect was evaluated from cell viability, cell adhesion, ROS production and fluorescence staining studies. Cell viability on GCP substrate was found to initially increase as graphene content increases from 0 to 2.5 wt% but then decrease as the content increases further. In addition, the viability decreases with time for all substrates. Similarly, graphene concentration affected the number of adherent cells in the same manner as the cell viability. Likewise, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by carbon substrate increased with time and decreased with small graphene inclusion, confirming that low graphene content led to lower cytotoxicity. Moreover, confluence of MDA cells on substrate evaluated using Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining was also found to be enhanced at low graphene concentration. Therefore, low-content graphene incorporation can effectively improve biocompatibility of carbon-based materials with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, enabling potential applications such as electrochemical electrode for cell study.
Insights
Graphene-carbon paste substrates show improved biocompatibility with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at low graphene concentrations. This enhances cell viability and adhesion, suggesting potential for bio-electrochemical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Graphene's unique properties, including high electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activity, make it promising for bio-electrochemical applications.
- Limited understanding of graphene's biocompatibility with biological entities has hindered its widespread use in biological fields.
- Assessing the cytotoxicity of graphene-based materials is crucial for developing safe and effective biomedical devices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of graphene-carbon paste (GCP) substrates with varying graphene content on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (MDA cells).
- To determine the optimal graphene concentration for enhancing the biocompatibility of carbon paste electrodes for cell studies.
- To investigate the impact of graphene on cell viability, adhesion, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cell confluence.
Main Methods:
- Graphene-carbon paste (GCP) substrates were prepared with different weight percentages (wt%) of graphene powder mixed into carbon paste.
- Cytotoxicity was assessed through cell viability assays, cell adhesion studies, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production measurements, and Hoechst 33342 fluorescence staining.
- MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells were cultured on both carbon paste (CP) and GCP substrates over time.
Main Results:
- Cell viability and adhesion on GCP substrates initially increased with graphene content up to 2.5 wt% before decreasing at higher concentrations.
- Cell viability decreased over time on all substrates, but lower graphene concentrations mitigated this effect.
- ROS production, induced by the carbon substrate, decreased with the inclusion of low graphene content, indicating reduced cytotoxicity.
- Cell confluence, assessed by fluorescence staining, was enhanced on substrates with low graphene concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Low-content graphene incorporation (up to 2.5 wt%) significantly improves the biocompatibility of carbon paste materials with MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.
- Optimized graphene-carbon paste substrates demonstrate reduced cytotoxicity and enhanced cell adhesion and confluence.
- These findings support the potential of graphene-modified carbon paste as an effective electrode material for electrochemical studies involving cancer cells.
