title: Graphene oxide as an anaerobic membrane scaffold for the enhancement of B. adolescentis proliferation and antagonistic effects against pathogens E. coli and S. aureus.
abstract: The impact of the gut microbiota on human health is widely perceived as the most exciting advancement in biomedicine. The gut microbiota has been known to play a crucial role in defining states of human health and diseases, and thus becomes a potential new territory for drug targeting. Herein, graphene oxide (GO) interaction with five common human gut bacteria, B. adolescentis, L. acidophilus, E. coli, E. faecalis, and S. aureus, was studied. It was shown that, in bacterial media, GO sheets were able to form effective, anaerobic membrane scaffolds that enhanced the antagonistic activity of B. adolescentis against the pathogens E. coli andS. aureus. Data obtained using bacterial growth measurements, colony counting and 16S rRNA gene sequencing consistently indicated that GO sheets promoted proliferation of gut bacteria, particularly for B. adolescentis. Scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy images, and membrane potential measurements showed that cell membranes maintained their integrity and that no observable variations in cell morphology were induced after interaction with GO sheets, indicating good biocompatibility of GO. These results suggest the possibility of using GO sheets as efficient drug carriers in therapeutic applications to treat diseases related to the gut microbiota.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Key Laboratory of Nuclear Radiation and Nuclear Energy Technology, Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Han-qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rui-fang
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Ling-na
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xiao-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhi-fang
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.forename: Wei-yue
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D001644:Bifidobacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006108:Graphite; D006801:Humans; D007779:Lactobacillus acidophilus; D056265:Microbial Interactions; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013270:Stomach / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D006108:Graphite