Characterization of graphene oxide dispersions in biological media

Graphene oxide (GO), the oxidized form of graphene, is widely studied due to its high dispersibility and ease of production, making it useful in applications like sensors, batteries, solar cells, and as a polymer filler. As GO use increases, so does the potential for human and environmental exposure, necessitating risk assessment beyond its pristine state, especially after exposure to environmental and biological fluids[1]. This work characterizes GO samples of varying sizes and oxidation levels after exposure to biological fluids, including cell culture media, simulated lung surfactants, and C. elegans media. GO was incubated in water collected from C. elegans cultures, both with and without E. coli, as biomolecules from worms, bacteria, and Nematode Growth Medium can influence exposure conditions. To simulate inhalation exposure, we used amble’s solution, which mimics deep lung interstitial fluid [2]. The stability of GO dispersions in cell culture media was evaluated due to its impact on cellular responses, along with the characterization of the biomolecular corona that forms around GO in biological environments [3]. This study focused on both the stability of GO in complex media and the biomolecular corona's role