Is Graphene Oxide a Chemoattractant?

The use of nanomaterials to regulate
cell surface receptors is
considered a novel strategy to manipulate cell behaviors. However,
recognition is important to drive nanoparticle-cell complex formation.
Here, we report a novel approach that uses graphene oxide (GO) as
a chemoattractant to lure bacteria to nanosurface, facilitating complex
formation. The amount of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells attracted into capillaries containing 20
mg/L GO was more than 8.6-fold higher than that attracted into capillaries
containing 20 mg/L glucose. The inherent mechanism involved interference
with transmembrane chemoreceptors and activation of the chemotactic
system via GO attachment and a subsequent increase in cell aggregation
and migration via self-secreted quorum sensing molecules. The key
feature of this strategy is the potential to improve the efficiency
of the nanoparticle-cell recognition pattern and to expedite the development
of surface-contact-related nanotechnology.