%0 Journal Article
%T Retinal Degeneration Response to Graphene Quantum Dots: Disruption of the Blood-Retina Barrier Modulated by Surface Modification-Dependent DNA Methylation.
%A Liu Y
%A Tan X
%A Wang R
%A Fan L
%A Yan Q
%A Chen C
%A Wang W
%A Ren Z
%A Ning X
%A Ku T
%A Sang N
%J Environ Sci Technol
%V 58
%N 33
%D 2024 Aug 20
%M 39102579
%F 11.357
%R 10.1021/acs.est.4c02179
%X Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are used in diverse fields from chemistry-related materials to biomedicines, thus causing their substantial release into the environment. Appropriate visual function is crucial for facilitating the decision-making process within the nervous system. Given the direct interaction of eyes with the environment and even nanoparticles, herein, GQDs, sulfonic acid-doped GQDs (S-GQDs), and amino-functionalized GQDs (A-GQDs) were employed to understand the potential optic neurotoxicity disruption mechanism by GQDs. The negatively charged GQDs and S-GQDs disturbed the response to light stimulation and impaired the structure of the retinal nuclear layer of zebrafish larvae, causing vision disorder and retinal degeneration. Albeit with sublethal concentrations, a considerably reduced expression of the retinal vascular sprouting factor sirt1 through increased DNA methylation damaged the blood-retina barrier. Importantly, the regulatory effect on vision function was influenced by negatively charged GQDs and S-GQDs but not positively charged A-GQDs. Moreover, cluster analysis and computational simulation studies indicated that binding affinities between GQDs and the DNMT1-ligand binding might be the dominant determinant of the vision function response. The previously unknown pathway of blood-retinal barrier interference offers opportunities to investigate the biological consequences of GQD-based nanomaterials, guiding innovation in the industry toward environmental sustainability.