title: Graphene can wreak havoc with cell membranes.
abstract: Molecular dynamics--coarse grained to the level of hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions--shows that small hydrophobic graphene sheets pierce through the phospholipid membrane and navigate the double layer, intermediate size sheets pierce the membrane only if a suitable geometric orientation is met, and larger sheets lie mainly flat on the top of the bilayer where they wreak havoc with the membrane and create a patch of upturned phospholipids. The effect arises in order to maximize the interaction between hydrophobic moieties and is quantitatively explained in terms of flip-flops by the analysis of the simulations. Possible severe biological consequences are discussed.
authors: Dipartimento di Chimica "G. Ciamician", Alma Mater Studiorum-Università di Bologna , via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Dallavalle
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Calvaresi
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Bottoni
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Melle-Franco
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Zerbetto
mesh_terms: D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010743:Phospholipids; D006108:Graphite
keywords: dissipative particle dynamics; flip-flop; graphene; membrane; nanotoxicity