AUTHOR=Zhang Yule , Zhang Yatian , Yang Zhijin , Fan Yan , Chen Mengya , Zhao Mantong , Dai Bo , Zheng Lulu , Zhang Dawei 

TITLE=Cytotoxicity Effect of Iron Oxide (Fe3O4)/Graphene Oxide (GO) Nanosheets in Cultured HBE Cells

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2022.888033

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2022.888033

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Iron oxide (Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>), a classical magnetic material, has been widely utilized in the field of biological magnetic resonance imaging Graphene oxide (GO) has also been extensively applied as a drug carrier due to its high specific surface area and other properties. Recently, numerous studies have synthesized Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO nanomaterials for biological diagnosis and treatments, including photothermal therapy and magnetic thermal therapy. However, the biosafety of the synthesized Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO nanomaterials still needs to be further identified. Therefore, this research intended to ascertain the cytotoxicity of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO after treatment with different conditions in HBE cells. The results indicated the time-dependent and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO. Meanwhile, exposure to Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/GO nanomaterials increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, calcium ions levels, and oxidative stress in mitochondria produced by these nanomaterials activated Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis.</p>