Graphene Enhances Cellular Proliferation through Activating the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Graphene exhibits potential in food packaging, water purification, and sensors.
• Understanding graphene's biological effects and human exposure risks is crucial.
• Diverse exposure routes, including dietary intake, require investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the cellular effects of graphene exposure on cell proliferation.
• To evaluate the impact of graphene on various human cell lines and rat astrocytes.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying graphene-induced cellular responses.

Main Methods:

• Graphene characterization using Raman spectroscopy, particle size analysis, AFM, and TEM.
• Cell proliferation assays (MTT, alamarBlue) and flow cytometry.
• Western blot analysis to assess protein expression and signaling pathway activation (MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT).

Main Results:

• Graphene significantly enhanced cell proliferation across all tested cell lines (up to 60%).
• Graphene upregulated epidermal growth factor (EGF) expression, activating EGFR, ShC, and ERK via the MAPK/ERK pathway.
• Activation of PI3K/AKT pathway and increased G2/M phase cell ratios were observed, with no impact on apoptosis.

Conclusions:

• Graphene exposure stimulates cell proliferation through MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.
• Graphene demonstrates low cytotoxicity, with no observed effects on cell apoptosis.
• Findings offer crucial insights for graphene's biosafety evaluation and bioapplication development.