Toxicity of Graphene and Its Nanocomposites to Human Cell Lines: The Present Scenario

Graphene, a two dimensional (2D) planar and hexagonal array of carbon atoms, interacts with biological systems in different ways. Pristine graphene has been found to produce different responses as compared to its nano-composites. Graphene and its derivatives have been tested for their toxic effects on human erythrocytes, skin fibroblasts and different human cell lines including HepG2, A498, Caco-2, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, SKBR3, MGC-803 and A549. Surface charge on graphene oxide (GO) has been found to play important role in its toxicity. Higher GO concentrations were found to be associated with increase in G0/G1 phase cell proportions. Graphene and its nano-composites have also been found involved in higher reactive oxygen species production, DNA damage, cell cycle changes, interference with metabolic routes and apotosis. Though the studies on graphene toxicity on humans are rare, an attempt has been made in this paper, to compile and evaluate the studies involving graphene and its nano-composites particularly in relation to human cell lines.