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Updated: Jul 3, 2025

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Adhesion States Greatly Affect Cellular Susceptibility to Graphene Oxide: Therapeutic Implications for Cancer

Keiko Morotomi-Yano1, Shinya Hayami1,2, Ken-Ichi Yano1

  • 1Institute of Industrial Nanomaterials, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|February 10, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Graphene oxide (GO) is more toxic to non-adhered cells than adhered cells, primarily due to ATP depletion. This selective toxicity suggests GO’s potential in preventing cancer metastasis.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cell Biology
  • Nanomedicine

Background:

  • Graphene oxide (GO) shows promise in life sciences but its biocompatibility varies.
  • Cell adhesion state can influence the cytotoxic effects of GO.
  • Understanding GO's impact on different cell states is crucial for its safe application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the differential cytotoxicity of graphene oxide (GO) based on cell adhesion states.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of GO-induced cell death in adhered versus non-adhered cells.
  • To explore the therapeutic potential of GO in combating cancer metastasis.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing human HCT-116 cells in both adherent and non-adherent states.
  • Treating cells with GO and assessing cytotoxicity.
  • Measuring intracellular ATP levels and evaluating apoptosis and autophagy induction.

Main Results:

  • Non-adhered cells exhibited higher susceptibility to GO cytotoxicity compared to adhered cells.
  • GO treatment led to rapid intracellular ATP depletion in non-adhered cells, indicating ATP depletion as a key mechanism.
  • Apoptosis induction was similar in both cell states, while autophagy was more pronounced in non-adhered cells.

Conclusions:

  • Cell adhesion state significantly modulates graphene oxide (GO) cytotoxicity.
  • ATP depletion is the primary driver of GO-induced cell death in non-adhered cells.
  • The selective toxicity of GO towards non-adhered cells highlights its potential therapeutic application in preventing cancer metastasis.
Keywords:
autophagybiocompatibilitycell adhesiongraphene oxidemetastasis

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