To promote the safe use of innovative graphene-based nanomaterials, the study of their interactions with blood immune cells is of fundamental importance for any translational medicine application, especially for procedures requiring intravenous injection.
However, despite graphene-based materials attracted great interest for biomedical applications, the data present in the literature had scarcely addressed their impact on the complex orchestra of immune cells.
Therefore, the ambitious purpose of the present research was to depict a comprehensive and quantitative picture of the immune activity of graphene nanoribbons, finite sized graphene materials with confined widths, showing fascinating perspectives in healthcare.
Graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) are finite sized graphene materials with confined widths. In contrast to other carbon nanomaterials such as graphene oxide, GNRs via the bottom-up organic synthesis (developed by the supervisor Prof. X.Feng) provided key novel aspects: i) the perfect control of structure at the atomic level ensuring higher reproducibility; ii) the conjugation with polar PEG-side chains, allowing very stable dispersion in water; iii) the future tailoring with different molecules and drugs, opening fascinating perspectives in healthcare. All these advantages compared to other nanomaterials make them “gold” carbon tools for their development in a medical direction.
In particular, the aim of the study was to investigate the blood immune cell interaction with GNRs in relation to their structural properties. Through the project, we developed a class of graphene nanoribbons and depicted their interaction with immune cells. Along with science, training in lecturing, student supervision, funding application, project management, and workshop/conference organization significantly improved the career growth of the fellow, thus giving her the necessary tools to develop a successful and independent career.
• the project led to one paper under revision and two in preparation which will be submitted soon to high impact factor journals. During the project period, all the work has been done on the side of TUD.
• The fellow has been fully trained as an independent researcher, and she got a professorship at the University of Padua, one of the top Universities in Italy.
