Influence of graphene oxide nanoparticles on the functional activity of leukocytes

Graphene and its derivatives are often used in biomedical research, so the issue of the effect of graphene and its derivatives on immune cells is of fundamental importance. The specific response of monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils to the stimulus is an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our study aimed to investigate the unmodified (GO) and pegylated (GO-PEG) graphene oxide particles' effect (concentrations 12.5; 25; 50 µg/mL) at the spontaneous and stimulated ROS production by peripheral blood leukocytes in the tests of luminol and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (LumCL and LucCL, respectively). It was found that GO/GO-PEG nanoparticles at concentrations of 25 and 50 µg/mL reduced the spontaneous ROS production by human peripheral blood leukocytes. Similar results were obtained concerning the zymosan-stimulated ROS production. Thus, the general vector of the obtained effects of GO/GO-PEG in spontaneous and stimulated LumCL and LucCL was a decrease of ROS production by human peripheral blood leukocytes.