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. 2020 Mar 19;5(12):6588-6597.
doi: 10.1021/acsomega.9b04316. eCollection 2020 Mar 31.

Antioxidant Graphene Oxide Nanoribbon as a Novel Whitening Agent Inhibits Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor-Related Melanogenesis Mechanism

Hsin-Yu Chou  1 , Hui-Min David Wang  1   2   3   4   5 , Chia-Heng Kuo  6 , Pei-Hsuan Lu  7   8 , Lin Wang  9 , Wenyi Kang  10 , Chia-Liang Sun  6   7
Affiliations

Antioxidant Graphene Oxide Nanoribbon as a Novel Whitening Agent Inhibits Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor-Related Melanogenesis Mechanism

Hsin-Yu Chou et al. ACS Omega. .

Abstract

In the melanin synthesis process, oxidative reactions play an essential role, and it is a good strategy to inhibit melanin production by reducing oxidative stress. Fullerene and its derivatives, or the complexes, were considered as strong free-radical scavengers, and we further applied multilayered sp2 nanocarbons to discover melanin synthesis inhibitory mechanisms. In the present study, we used novel nanomaterials, such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), short-type MWCNTs, graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs), and short-type GONRs, as anti-oxidative agents to regulate melanin production. The results showed that GONRs had better anti-oxidative capabilities in intracellular and extracellular oxidative stress analysis platforms than others. We proposed that GONRs have oxygen-containing functional groups. In the 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay, we found out GONR could chelate metal ions to scavenge reactive oxygen species. In the molecular insight view, we observed that these nanomaterials downregulated the melanin synthesis by decreasing microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-related gene expressions, and there were similar consequences in protein expressions. To sum up, GONRs is a potential agent as a novel antioxidant and skin-whitening cosmetology material.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Low-magnification and high-magnification TEM picture of MWCNTs and GONRs. (b) Raman spectra of four nanocarbons. The D band of GONRs is higher than that of MWCNTs after the unzipping process. (c,d) display the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra of four nanocarbons. Apparently, the D′ peak is the most evident for short GONRs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Process diagram of unzipping and cutting presented MWCNTs to be GONRs and short GONRs.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DCFDA assay results showing that MWCNTs and GONRs treatment decreased the ROS production in B16 F10 cells. All data points were done in triplicates (*P < 0.01; Student’s t-test).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) Cell proliferation effects of nanoparticles on human cells. HS68 cells were treated with 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL of MWCNTs and GONRs for 24 h. (b) Tyrosinase activity assay. B16–F10 cells were treated with 1, 5, and 10 μg/mL of MWCNTs and GONRs. (c) Inhibitory effects of melanin content of nanocarbons on B16–F10 cells. All data points were done in triplicates (*P < 0.01; Student’s t-test).
Figure 5
Figure 5
RNA and protein expressions associated with the melanin biosynthesis of B16 F10 cells treated with various concentrations (0, 15, and 10 μg/mL) of MWCNTs and GONRs. (a) RNA expressions. (b) Protein expressions. All data points were done in triplicates (*P < 0.01; Student’s t-test).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Schematic diagram of biofunctions of MWCNTs and GONRs in B16 F10 cells. MWCNTs and GONRs could inhibit melanin synthesis via reding oxidation and regulating MITF related pathway.
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