Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues
Studies involving transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been around for many decades and in recent years, many were focused on using TMDs to synthesize inorganic analogues of carbon nanotubes, fullerene, as well as graphene and its derivatives with the ultimate aim of employing these material...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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2014
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| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105154 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/20477 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201402680 |
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| author | Teo, Wei Zhe Chng, Elaine Lay Khim Sofer, Zdeněk Pumera, Martin |
| author2 | School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences |
| author_facet | School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Teo, Wei Zhe Chng, Elaine Lay Khim Sofer, Zdeněk Pumera, Martin |
| author_sort | Teo, Wei Zhe |
| collection | NTU |
| description | Studies involving transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been around for many decades and in recent years, many were focused on using TMDs to synthesize inorganic analogues of carbon nanotubes, fullerene, as well as graphene and its derivatives with the ultimate aim of employing these materials into consumer products. In view of this rising trend, we investigated the cytotoxicity of three common exfoliated TMDs (exTMDs), namely MoS2, WS2, and WSe2, and compared their toxicological effects with graphene oxides and halogenated graphenes to find out whether these inorganic analogues of graphenes and derivatives would show improved biocompatibility. Based on the cell viability assessments using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-8) assays on human lung carcinoma epithelial cells (A549) following a 24 h exposure to varying concentrations of the three exTMDs, it was concluded that MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets induced very low cytotoxicity to A549 cells, even at high concentrations. On the other hand, WSe2 exhibited dose-dependent toxicological effects on A549 cells, reducing cell viability to 31.8 % at the maximum concentration of 400 μg mL−1; the higher cytotoxicity displayed by WSe2 might be linked to the identity of the chalcogen. In comparison with graphene oxides and halogenated graphenes, MoS2 and WS2 were much less hazardous, whereas WSe2 showed similar degree of cytotoxicity. Future in-depth studies should be built upon this first work on the in vitro cytotoxicity of MoS2 and WS2 to ensure that they do not pose acute toxicity. Lastly, nanomaterial-induced interference control experiments revealed that exTMDs were capable of reacting with MTT assay viability markers in the absence of cells, but not with WST-8 assay. This suggests that the MTT assay is not suitable for measuring the cytotoxicity of exTMDs because inflated results will be obtained, giving false impressions that the materials are less toxic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:41:09Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | ntu-10356/105154 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:41:09Z |
| publishDate | 2014 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/1051542019-12-06T21:46:38Z Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues Teo, Wei Zhe Chng, Elaine Lay Khim Sofer, Zdeněk Pumera, Martin School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences DRNTU::Science::Chemistry Studies involving transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been around for many decades and in recent years, many were focused on using TMDs to synthesize inorganic analogues of carbon nanotubes, fullerene, as well as graphene and its derivatives with the ultimate aim of employing these materials into consumer products. In view of this rising trend, we investigated the cytotoxicity of three common exfoliated TMDs (exTMDs), namely MoS2, WS2, and WSe2, and compared their toxicological effects with graphene oxides and halogenated graphenes to find out whether these inorganic analogues of graphenes and derivatives would show improved biocompatibility. Based on the cell viability assessments using methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-8) assays on human lung carcinoma epithelial cells (A549) following a 24 h exposure to varying concentrations of the three exTMDs, it was concluded that MoS2 and WS2 nanosheets induced very low cytotoxicity to A549 cells, even at high concentrations. On the other hand, WSe2 exhibited dose-dependent toxicological effects on A549 cells, reducing cell viability to 31.8 % at the maximum concentration of 400 μg mL−1; the higher cytotoxicity displayed by WSe2 might be linked to the identity of the chalcogen. In comparison with graphene oxides and halogenated graphenes, MoS2 and WS2 were much less hazardous, whereas WSe2 showed similar degree of cytotoxicity. Future in-depth studies should be built upon this first work on the in vitro cytotoxicity of MoS2 and WS2 to ensure that they do not pose acute toxicity. Lastly, nanomaterial-induced interference control experiments revealed that exTMDs were capable of reacting with MTT assay viability markers in the absence of cells, but not with WST-8 assay. This suggests that the MTT assay is not suitable for measuring the cytotoxicity of exTMDs because inflated results will be obtained, giving false impressions that the materials are less toxic. 2014-09-10T05:39:19Z 2019-12-06T21:46:38Z 2014-09-10T05:39:19Z 2019-12-06T21:46:38Z 2014 2014 Journal Article Teo, W. Z., Chng, E. L. K., Sofer, Z., & Pumera, M. (2014). Cytotoxicity of Exfoliated Transition-Metal Dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is Lower Than That of Graphene and its Analogues. Chemistry - A European Journal, 20(31), 9627-9632. 0947-6539 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105154 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/20477 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201402680 en Chemistry - A European Journal © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Science::Chemistry Teo, Wei Zhe Chng, Elaine Lay Khim Sofer, Zdeněk Pumera, Martin Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title | Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title_full | Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title_fullStr | Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title_short | Cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition-metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, and WSe2) is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| title_sort | cytotoxicity of exfoliated transition metal dichalcogenides mos2 ws2 and wse2 is lower than that of graphene and its analogues |
| topic | DRNTU::Science::Chemistry |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10356/105154 http://hdl.handle.net/10220/20477 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.201402680 |
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