NANO-BIO INTERACTIONS OF GRAPHENE OXIDE WITH BLOOD-RELATED ENTITIES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE

Abstract

This thesis sought to elucidate the nano-bio interactions of carbon nanomaterials, particularly graphene oxide (GO), with blood-related entities, their antithrombotic and antimalarial properties, and their potential in combating inherent and vector-borne blood-related disorders. We first evaluated the interactions of one-dimensional and two-dimensional carbon nanomaterials with blood plasma proteins and demonstrated that these interactions might be significantly influenced by the oxygenated functionality density of the nanomaterials. We then investigated the interactions between GO nanosheets and plasma proteins and showed that these interactions could be significantly dependent on the lateral size distribution of GO nanosheets. Next, we probed the molecular hemocompatibility of GO and antithrombotic property of albumin-functionalized GO and showed that this conjugate possessed enhanced antithrombotic effect. Lastly, we examined the interactions of GO nanomaterials with Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites and revealed that these nanomaterials significantly inhibited the parasite invasion on erythrocytes and delayed the parasite progression from ring to trophozoite.