Accumulation and toxicity of intravenously-injected functionalized graphene oxide in mice

Graphene and its functionalized derivatives have recently emerged as interesting nanomaterials with promising applications in biomedicine. In this study, the long-term in vivo biodistribution of intravenously injected nanographene oxide (NGO) functionalized with poly sodium 4-styrenesulfonate (PSS) was systematically examined and the potential toxicity over 6months of NGO-PSS nanoparticles was investigated. Our results showed that the nanoparticles mainly accumulate in the lung, liver and spleen, where they persist for at least 6months. These nanoparticles result in acute liver injury and chronic inflammation of the lung, liver and spleen, as evidenced by blood biochemistry results and histological examinations.