Graphdiyne (GDY) and graphene are regarded as two promising two-dimensional carbon-based materials, which have unique planar structure and novel electronic properties. Differences between the two carbon allotropes in their physicochemistry biology and cytotoxicity have never been explored. Here, we chemically functionalized the surface of the two carbon allotropes using similar oxidation processes and compared their physicochemistry, biology, and mutagenesis. Graphene oxide (GO) and GDY oxide (GDYO) showed similarities in their size, morphology, and physical spectral characteristics, excepting the differences in sp- and sp2-hybridizations and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. GDYO was well soluble in various media. In contrast, GO was only soluble in H2O, but kinetically aggregated in 0.9% NaCl, phosphate buffered saline, and cell media within 24 h incubation when its concentrations increased. GO nanoparticles adhered and aggregated to the surface of a human hepatocyte membrane, resulting in cell membrane ruffle, methuosis, and apoptosis. Adhesion of GO to cells caused cell stress and induced reactive oxygen species. In contrast, GDYO did not adhere to the cell membrane to produce the related consequences. Both GDYO and GO showed in vivo mutagenesis potential but no erythrocyte-killing effect, and both were antioxidant and bioequivalent at binding to single-stranded DNA and doxorubicin, thus causing fluorescence quenching. The present study significantly enriches our existing knowledge of GO/alkene and GDYO/alkyne chemistry.
Keywords: antioxidant; cytotoxicity; graphdiyne oxide; graphene oxide; solubility.