Journal Article

First-in-human controlled inhalation of thin graphene oxide nanosheets to study acute cardiorespiratory responses

Boere, A. John F., Kostarelos, Kostas, Newby, David E., Crica, Livia E., Okwelogu, Emmanuel, Lozano, Neus, Ziegler, Kerstin, Cassee, Flemming R., Raftis, Jennifer B., Cuthbert, Hayley, Fokkens, Paul H. B., Syed, Maaz B., Whitfield, Phil D., Leseman, Daan L. A. C., Poland, Craig A., Joshi, Shruti S., Bruce, Lorraine, Andrews, Jack P. M., Tammireddy, Seshu, Tzolos, Evangelos, Megson, Ian L., Hadjidemetriou, Marilena, Miller, Mark R., Duffin, Rodger, Bussy, Cyrill

2024

Overview

Graphene oxide nanomaterials are being developed for wide-ranging applications but are associated with potential safety concerns for human health. We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled study to determine how the inhalation of graphene oxide nanosheets affects acute pulmonary and cardiovascular function. Small and ultrasmall graphene oxide nanosheets at a concentration of 200 μg m − 3 or filtered air were inhaled for 2 h by 14 young healthy volunteers in repeated visits. Overall, graphene oxide nanosheet exposure was well tolerated with no adverse effects. Heart rate, blood pressure, lung function and inflammatory markers were unaffected irrespective of graphene oxide particle size. Highly enriched blood proteomics analysis revealed very few differential plasma proteins and thrombus formation was mildly increased in an ex vivo model of arterial injury. Overall, acute inhalation of highly purified and thin nanometre-sized graphene oxide nanosheets was not associated with overt detrimental effects in healthy humans. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of carefully controlled human exposures at a clinical setting for risk assessment of graphene oxide, and lay the foundations for investigating the effects of other two-dimensional nanomaterials in humans. Clinicaltrials.gov ref: NCT03659864. Assessment of the health risks of exposure to anthropogenic nanomaterials is crucial to maximize their potential applications. This double-blind, randomized controlled study in healthy humans evaluates the impact of inhalation of graphene oxide nanosheets on acute pulmonary and cardiovascular functions.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group
• Subject: 631/61/350/2093 / 631/61/350/354 / Administration, Inhalation / Adult / Anthropogenic factors / Blood pressure / Blood Pressure - drug effects / Cardiovascular system / Chemistry and Materials Science / Clinical trials / Double-Blind Method / Exposure / Female / Graphene / Graphite - chemistry / Health risks / Heart rate / Heart Rate - drug effects / Human influences / Humans / Inflammation / Inhalation / Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects / Male / Materials Science / Nanomaterials / Nanosheets / Nanostructures - chemistry / Nanotechnology / Nanotechnology and Microengineering / Particle Size / Plasma proteins / Pressure effects / Proteomics / Respiration / Respiratory function / Risk assessment / Thrombosis / Young Adult