Delivery of long chain C 16 and C 24 ceramide in HeLa cells using oxidized graphene nanoribbons

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part B, Applied biomaterials Applied biomaterials, 2020-04, Vol.108 (3), p.1141-1156
• Main Authors: Suhrland, Cassandra, Truman, Jean-Philip, Obeid, Lina M, Sitharaman, Balaji
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1552-4973; 1552-4981
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.b.34465

The bioactive sphingolipid ceramide has many important roles in cell signaling processes, particularly in signaling programmed cell death in cancer. However, ceramide levels are often impaired in multi-drug resistant and radiation resistant cancers due to the dysregulation of ceramide metabolism. Restoration of ceramide levels through external delivery therefore represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of resistant cancers. However, as a lipid, ceramide is extremely hydrophobic and requires a delivery system to enter cells. Here we report the development of a method to load significant amounts of the long chain C and C ceramides onto oxidized graphene nanoribbons (O-GNRs) derived from carbon nanotubes. Using O-GNRs as a delivery system for these ceramides, we were able to induce significant biological effects in HeLa cells in conjunction with C ceramide and ultraviolet radiation treatment. However, we found that O-GNRs themselves exert significant biological effects and can interfere with the actions of these ceramides and ultraviolet treatment. Loading of ceramides onto O-GNRs did not have a significant effect on the entry of the nanoparticles into cells. Despite the need for further improvement, these data represent an important first step in the development of O-GNRs as a delivery system for long chain ceramides.