A revolutionary nanomaterial with huge potential to tackle multiple global challenges could possibly be developed further without acute risk to human health, research suggests.
Fastidiously controlled inhalation of a selected form of graphene — the world’s thinnest, super strong and super flexible material — has no short-term antagonistic effects on lung or cardiovascular function, the study shows.
The primary controlled exposure clinical trial in people was carried out using thin, ultra-pure graphene oxide — a water-compatible type of the fabric.
Researchers say further work is required to seek out out whether higher doses of this graphene oxide material or other types of graphene would have a special effect.
The team can be keen to ascertain whether longer exposure to the fabric, which is hundreds of times thinner than a human hair, would carry additional health risks.
There was a surge of interest in developing graphene — a cloth first isolated by scientists in 2004 and which has been hailed as a ‘wonder’ material. Possible applications include electronics, phone screens, clothing, paints and water purification.
Graphene is actively being explored world wide to help with targeted therapeutics against cancer and other health conditions, and in addition in the shape of implantable devices and sensors. Before medical use, nevertheless, all nanomaterials must be tested for any potential antagonistic effects.
Researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Manchester recruited 14 volunteers to participate within the study under rigorously controlled exposure and clinical monitoring conditions.
The volunteers breathed the fabric through a face mask for 2 hours while cycling in a purpose-designed mobile exposure chamber dropped at Edinburgh from the National Public Health Institute within the Netherlands.
Effects on lung function, blood pressure, blood clotting and inflammation within the blood were measured — before the exposure and at two-hour intervals. A couple of weeks later, the volunteers were asked to return to the clinic for repeated controlled exposures to a special size of graphene oxide, or clean air for comparison.
There have been no antagonistic effects on lung function, blood pressure or nearly all of other biological parameters checked out.
Researchers noticed a slight suggestion that inhalation of the fabric may influence the way in which the blood clots, but they stress this effect was very small.
Dr Mark Miller, of the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Cardiovascular Science, said: “Nanomaterials similar to graphene hold such great promise, but we must ensure they’re manufactured in a way that’s secure before they will be used more widely in our lives.
“Having the ability to explore the protection of this unique material in human volunteers is a big step forward in our understanding of how graphene could affect the body. With careful design we will safely take advantage of nanotechnology.”
Professor Kostas Kostarelos, of the University of Manchester and the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) in Barcelona, said: “That is the first-ever controlled study involving healthy people to show that very pure types of graphene oxide — of a selected size distribution and surface character — will be further developed in a way that might minimise the danger to human health.
“It has taken us greater than 10 years to develop the knowledge to perform this research, from a materials and biological science viewpoint, but in addition from the clinical capability to perform such controlled studies safely by assembling a number of the world’s leading experts on this field.”
Professor Bryan Williams, Chief Scientific and Medical Officer on the British Heart Foundation, said: “The invention that such a graphene will be developed safely, with minimal short term negative effects, could open the door to the event of recent devices, treatment innovations and monitoring techniques.
“We stay up for seeing larger studies over an extended timeframe to raised understand how we will safely use nanomaterials like graphene to make leaps in delivering lifesaving drugs to patients.”
