title: Biological Uptake, Distribution, and Depuration of Radio-Labeled Graphene in Adult Zebrafish: Effects of Graphene Size and Natural Organic Matter.
abstract: The exciting commercial application potential of graphene materials may inevitably lead to their increasing release into the environment where they may pose ecological risks. This study focused on using carbon-14-labeled few-layer graphene (FLG) to determine whether the size of graphene plays a role in its uptake, depuration, and biodistribution in adult zebrafish. After 48 h exposure to larger FLG (L-FLG) at 250 μg/L, the amount of graphene in the organism was close to 48 mg/kg fish dry mass, which was more than 170-fold greater than the body burden of those exposed to the same concentration of smaller FLG (S-FLG). The amount of uptake for both L-FLG and S-FLG increased by a factor of 2.5 and 16, respectively, when natural organic matter (NOM) was added in the exposure suspension. While the L-FLG mainly accumulated in the gut of adult zebrafish, the S-FLG was found in both the gut and liver after exposure with or without NOM. Strikingly, the S-FLG was able to pass through the intestinal wall and enter the intestinal epithelial cells and blood. The presence of NOM increased the quantity of S-FLG in these cells. Exposure to L-FLG or S-FLG also had a significantly different impact on the intestinal microbial community structure.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shipeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Material Measurement Laboratory, Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology , 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8311, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-0001, United States.
authors.forename: Elijah J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.affiliation: School of Environment, State Key Lab Water Environmental Simulation, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Environmental Science & Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University , Shanghai 200092, China.
authors.forename: Sijie
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6970-8221
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shixiang
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9066-6970
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Liang
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4647-5485
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mao
mesh_terms: D000333:Aeromonas / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000737:chemistry*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010316:Particle Size; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D006108:Graphite; C000615234:Carbon-14
keywords: graphene; intestinal epithelial cells; liver; microbial community; natural organic matter; zebrafish