C-Nanodots Existence for Human Blood Plasma

For the first time, the researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, have reported that the presence of carbon nanostructures (2–3 nm in diameter) in our human blood plasma. The observed particles are identified as N-doped carbon dots having surfaced active O₂ functional groups. These functionalized carbonaceous nanostructures have been originated by catabolic processes of consumed foods and beverages. It may take part indifferent catalytic activities of biomolecules in a cellular system, which is very essential for normal physiological functions.

Human blood has comprised of cellular and acellular components with transport gases, hormones, nutrients, enzymes, it balance these immune and physiological systems. There are no any reports pertaining to cells or particles with the size (≤100 nm) in human blood yet [1–3]. Hence, the researchers make an attempt to examine the presence of particles of the same size. The other reason for looking at such particles in human blood arises from certain reports pertaining to the role-playing of nanoparticles within the biological systems. The integral parts of the cellular system where mainly based upon the catabolic and redox reactions including both exothermic and endothermic reactions. However, it is intuitive to assume indigenous construction of nanostructures within the biological systems. Hence, there was a phenomenal increase in scientific reports describing various routes for synthesizing nanoparticles using either microbial plant components [4–6].

Blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers (age group between 30–45, of men and women). All experiments were approved by the ethical committee of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kharagpur (No.IIT/SRIC/AR/2013, dated on: 22^nd October 2013) and were performed in accordance with appropriate guidelines and regulations. Blood was collected in BD Vacutainer® Rapid Serum Tube (RST) and the serum was separated by following the appropriate protocol and immediately stored at 4^oC. Separated serum was passed through disposable (0.22 µm) syringe filter (sterileMillex-GP). The filtrate was collected and further studied for nanostructure analysis.

Figure 1. A schematic representation of the possible synthesis of C-nanodots in human plasma [7].

The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis on human blood plasma reveals the presence of clusters (∼50 nm) of nanodots with the dimension (∼2–3 nm; Figure 2(a&b)). The corresponding selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern with the selected area (Figure 2a) showed a polycrystalline nature. The high-resolution of SAED image presented in the inset (Figure 2b) has suggested a hexagonal pattern indicating the graphitic C nanodots [8, 9]. On further investigation of the elemental and chemical insights with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the nanoparticles were found to be nitrogen doped functionalized of carbon nano-dots (CNDs) mainly consisted of C, N, O₂ (Figure 2d).

Figure 2. Characteristics of obtained nanodots in human blood. TEM images of filtrate serum from a healthy volunteer, enlarged view in lower inset and SAED pattern in the upper inset (a). Another TEM images from another volunteer with a SAED pattern in the inset (b). Zeta potential measurement of C-dots in blood serum (c). Typical broad energy XPS spectrum (d) and corresponding deconvoluted spectrum (e to g). Photoluminescence spectrum along with deconvoluted pattern (h) and schematic π−π∗ and n− π∗ transitions from non-bonding electrons (i) [7].

Nanoparticles have found entry into the blood through several routes. The most possible mechanism of nanoparticle genesis in our human body may include immobilization of micro-or macro-nutrients or by the metabolism of organic moleculesand their self-aggregation [10]. Synthesis of carbon nanostructures (Ex. C-nanodots) has been reported from different organic molecules under various pH environments [11].

Recently, the pH dependent synthesis of C-nanodots under in vitro condition and their formation of amorphous nanostructures at an acidic condition (pH<3) were been reported [12]. These C-nanodots in our human blood were possible to originate from various organic molecules through different enzymatic transformations during digestion in the stomach (as shown in schematic representation, (Figure 1), where the pH range of gastric juice is varied from 1.5 to 3.5. The required thermal energy for this reaction appears to be supplied by the heat generated during the exothermic reaction between the acid of pancreatic juice and water. Hence, the synthesized nanodots will travel through the pancreatic duct to the liver and then into the bloodstreams.

This report has first evidenced of the presence of C-nanodots in blood plasma and it was curious to realize the spontaneous production of C-nanostructures during metabolism of foods and beverages in the human body. This observation will be an important feature to regulate our circadian activities which can differentiate among the human bodies of different health conditions based on the shape, size, concentration and functionalities of the C-nanodots. Several applications of functionalized C-nanodots have been documented, but their actual role in human blood is still a mystery. Thus, the existence of C-nanodots in our body fluid will open a new area in the research and development to identify their roles in different disease manifestation.

References

L. Xia, S. C. Lenaghan, M. Zhang, Z. Zhang, and Q. Li, J. Nanobiotech. 8, 12 (2010).
Y. Wang, Y. L. Sun, S. Yi, Y. Huang, S. C. Lenaghan, and M. Zhang, Adv. Funct. Mater. 23, 2175 (2013).
B. L. Ma, C. Yin, B. K. Zhang, Y. Dai, Y. Q. Jia, Y. Yang, Q. Li, R. Shi, T. M. Wang, J. S. Wu, Y. Y. Li, G. Lin, and Y. M. Ma, Sci. Rep. 6, 20110 (2016).
N. Aziz, M. Faraz, R. Pandey, M. Shakir, T. Fatma, A. Varma, I. Barman and R. Prasad, Langmuir 31, 11605 (2015).
N. Aziz, R. Pandey, I. Barman, and R. Prasad, Frontiers in Microbiology 7, 1984 (2016)
R. Prasad, J. Nanoparticles 2014, Article ID 963961 (2014).
S.M. Mandal, T.K. Sinha, A.K. Katiyar, S.Das, M. Mandal, and S. Ghosh,J. Nanosci. Nanotechnol. 19, 6961 (2019).
P. Roy, P. C. Chen, A. P. Periasamy, Y. N. Chen, and H. T. Chang, Mater. Today 18, 447 (2015).
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Blog Written By

Dr. Y. SASIKUMAR

School of Materials Science & Engineering,

Tianjin University of Technology,

Tianjin 300384, China

Editors

Dr. A. S. Ganeshraja

Dr. K. Rajkumar

Dr. S. Chandrasekar

Reviewer

Dr. S. Thirumurugan

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