Comparisons between Graphene Oxide and Graphdiyne Oxide in Physicochemistry Biology and Cytotoxicity.

Graphdiyne (GDY) and graphene (G) are regarded as two promising two-dimensional (2D) carbon-based materials, which have unique planar structure and novel electronic properties. Differences between the two carbon allotropes in their physicochemistry biology and cytotoxicity have never been explored. Here, we chemically functionalized the surface of the two carbon allotropes using similar oxidation processes, and compared their physicochemistry, biology and mutagenesis. Graphene oxide (GO) and graphdiyne oxide (GDYO) showed similarities in their size, morphology, and physical spectral characteristics, excepting the differences in sp- and sp2- hybridization and FT-IR. GDYO was well soluble in various media. In contrast, GO was only soluble in H2O, but kinetically aggregated in 0.9%NaCl, PBS and cell media within 24 h incubation when its concentrations increased. GO nanoparticles adhered and aggregated to the surface of human hepatocyte membrane, resulting in cell membrane ruffle, methuosis and apoptosis. Adhesion of GO to cells caused cell stress and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). In contrast, GDYO did not adhere to cell membrane to produce the related consequences. Both GDYO and GO showed in vivo mutagenesis potential but no erythrocyte-killing effect, and both were antioxidant and bioequivalent at binding to single-stranded DNA and doxorubicin, causing fluorescence quenched. The present study significantly enriches our existing knowledge of GO/alkene and GDYO/alkyne chemistry.