Graphene is a two-dimensional material consisting of only a single layer of carbon atoms with a hexagonal structure. Although its properties are still being studied, scientists already know many possible applications for which it can become an absolute winner among all other materials. Graphene’s extraordinary flexibility, extraordinary strength and conductive properties mean it has potential in many areas, from water filtration to condoms, supercomputers and medical devices.

Is graphene harmful to our body?

Unfortunately, we have the terrible experience of unintentionally poisoning ourselves and the environment with our technology. While their use has certainly advanced our society, everything from transportation to pesticides to plastic has come at the cost of our health and well-being. In an attempt to break away from this harmful “tradition”, researchers from all over Europe and Great Britain subjected one of the most promising new materials to direct testing, assessing its health effects.

Nanomaterials such as graphene show great promise, but we need to make sure they are produced safely before they can be used more widely in our lives.
says cardiologist Mark Miller of the University of Edinburgh.

After a decade of laboratory research in mice and human tissues, Miller and colleagues recruited 14 volunteers to conduct direct research. Inhaling different concentrations of graphene oxide nanoparticles. Blood pressure, blood clotting and inflammatory markers, as well as lung function, were measured before the particles were inhaled and every two hours during the trials. The procedure was repeated two weeks later.

After inhaling a very pure form of graphene oxide in volunteers there were no obvious changes in the respiratory or cardiovascular systems and there were no signs of inflammation. In contrast, similar concentrations of diesel exhaust cause symptoms of cardiovascular dysfunction, the researchers explain.

The controlled laboratory environment meant scientists could eliminate other environmental stressors that could affect the results. But the lessons learned from plastic show that some particles react quite differently when interacting with the outside world. Additionally, scientists noted that some inflammatory pathways in our bodies respond longer than the six hours the study took. So these results are not final.

Set I noticed a slight increase in blood clottingWhen they tested graphene on an artificial model of a damaged artery outside the human body. In other words, tiny nanoparticles that are thousands of times thinner than our hair may not yet be fully understood.

The results obtained will form the basis for future research to determine which properties of graphene materials determine their biological effects. Next, scientists aim to test different forms of graphene and make the experiments longer.