Improving Nanoparticle Biocompatibility through Graphene Encapsulation

Biocompatibility is required when materials are introduced to biological systems. We have synthesized binary systems of silver nanoparticles encapsulated by reduced graphene oxide sheets (nanosacks) that may improve biocompatibility. The effect nanoparticles have on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in a biological system is important to consider because ROS, such as hydroxyl radicals, can be toxic and lead to cell damage. To learn if graphene encapsulation can reduce nanoparticle toxicity, citrate coated silver nanoparticles are applied as a model system for studying nanosack properties. Hydroxyl radical production in pure silver nanoparticles is compared with hydroxyl radical production in encapsulated silver by monitoring the degradation of Rhodamine B. Our early results show that the nanosacks appear to slow hydroxyl radical production. In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, silver nanoparticles display the fastest decoloration of dye while silver filled nanosacks degrade dye at slower rates.