Studying The Effect Of Statins On The Toxicity Of Graphene Quantum Dot And Its Derivative In Mice By Using Radioisotope Tracer

Quantum dot had been wildly used in multidisciplinary due to its perfect fluorescence properties. Graphene quantum dot, inheriting the perfect fluorescence property of quantum dot and showing high biocompatibility, easy modification, high solubility and oxidation-reduction inertness, had become a hot issue in the biomedical field as bioimaging and drug delivery materials since it was found. However considering those nanoparticles would long-term stay in the organism, understanding and eliminating toxicity of graphene quantum dot were very important.Graphite irradiated by electron beam was firstly used to prepare graphene quantum dot. Then graphene quantum dot and its derivative were characterized by XRD, FTIR, Raman, FL, UV-vis, TGA and TEM, results showing that the products exhibited uniform size and excellent fluorescence properties, and were successfully functionalized with PEG (a popular way to increase solubility and biocompatibility).Biodistribution of graphene quantum dot and its derivative in mice were studied by radioisotopes trace method, so as the effect of statins on the biodistribution. Results showed that graphene quantum dot mainly accumulated in the lung, while graphene quantum dot coating PEG mainly accumulated in the reticuloendothelial system; statins had little effect on biodistribution, but speeded the clearance rate of graphene quantum dot and its derivative. Serum biochemistry test showed that stains injected before or with the nanoparticles would significantly reduce the toxicity of graphene quantum dot and its derivative; the effect of statins was dose-dependent and high dose of statins may produce drug toxicity; simvastatin, lovastatin and atorvastatin and fluvastatin all could reduce the toxicity of graphene quantum dot and its derivative. H&E stained tissue slices showed simvastatin could completely or significantly remove the accumulation of graphene quantum dot and its derivative and repair the damage caused by nanoparticles. Long-term toxicity experiment showed that LD50s of graphene quantum dot and its derivative were about 2 mg (120 mg/Kg); simvastatin didn’t significantly reduce long-term toxicity of graphene quantum dot and its derivative, but there were still a certain positive effect on the toxicity.