Graphene Oxide Flakes Tune Excitatory Neurotransmission in Vivo by Targeting Hippocampal Synapses

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b04903
• Publication Date: 2019-04-15T10:07:08Z
• Authors: Rossana Rauti; Manuela Medelin; Leon Newman; Sandra Vranic; Giacomo Reina; Alberto Bianco; Maurizio Prato; Kostas Kostarelos; Laura Ballerini
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Nanostructure; Excitatory Amino Acid Agent; [CHIM.THER] Chemical Sciences/Medicinal Chemistry; Primary Cell Culture; Quantum Dot; Glutamic Acid; quantum dots; glutamate; [CHIM.THER]Chemical Sciences/Medicinal Chemistry; Hippocampus; Synaptic Transmission; 03 medical and health sciences; Hippocampu; synapse; glutamate; Graphene; hippocampal network; quantum dots; synapses; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Glutamic Acid; Graphite; Hippocampus; Humans; Nanostructures; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurons; Primary Cell Culture; Quantum Dots; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Synapses; Synaptic Transmission; Quantum Dots; hippocampal network; Animals; Humans; Excitatory Amino Acid Agents; Rats, Wistar; Neurons; Neurodegenerative Disease; Animal; quantum dot; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neuron; ResearchInstitutes_Networks_Beacons/national_graphene_institute; name=National Graphene Institute; Synapse; Nanostructures; Rats; 3. Good health; Animals, Newborn; Synapses; Graphene; glutamate; hippocampal network; quantum dots; synapses; Rat; synapses; Graphite; Graphene; Human

Synapses compute and transmit information to connect neural circuits are at the basis of brain operations. Alterations in their function contribute a vast range neuropsychiatric neurodegenerative disorders synapse-based therapeutic intervention, such as selective inhibition synaptic transmission, may significantly help against serious pathologies. Graphene is two-dimensional nanomaterial largely exploited multiple domains science technology, including biomedical applications. In hippocampal neurons culture, small graphene oxide nanosheets (s-GO) selectively depress glutamatergic activity without altering cell viability. Glutamate main excitatory neurotransmitter central nervous system growing evidence suggests its involvement disorders. Here we demonstrate that s-GO directly targets release presynaptic vesicle. We propose flakes reduce availability transmitter, via promoting fast subsequent depletion, leading decline ofglutamatergic neurotransmission. injected hippocampus vivo, 48 h after surgery ex vivo patch-clamp recordings from slices show significant reduction respect saline injections.