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Probing interaction of atherogenic lysophosphatidylcholine with functionalized graphene nanosheets: theoretical modelling and experimental validation

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Abstract

Context

The potential of graphene derivatives for theranostic applications depends on their compatibility with cellular and biomolecular components. Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a lipid component present in oxidized low-density lipoproteins, microvesicles and free circulation in blood, plays a critical role in the pathophysiology of various diseases. Using density functional theory-based methods, we systematically investigated the interaction of atherogenic LPC molecule with different derivatives of graphene, including pristine graphene, graphene with defect, N-doped graphene, amine-functionalized graphene, various graphene oxides and hydroxylated graphene oxides. We observed that the adsorption of LPC on graphene derivatives is highly selective based on the orientation of the functional groups of LPC interacting with the surface of the derivatives. Hydroxylated graphene oxide exhibited the strongest interaction with LPC with adsorption energy of − 2.1 eV due to the interaction between the hydroxyl group on graphene and the phosphate group of LPC. The presence of aqueous medium further enhanced this interaction indicating favourable adsorption of LPC and graphene oxide in biological systems. Such strong interaction leads to substantial change in the electronic structure of the LPC molecule, which results in the activation of this molecule. In contrast, amine-modified graphene showed the least interaction. These theoretical results are in line with our experimental fluorescence spectroscopic data of LPC/1-anilino-8-napthalene sulfonic acid complex. Our present comprehensive investigation employing both theoretical and experimental methods provides a deeper understanding of graphene-lipid interaction, which holds paramount importance in the design and fabrication of graphene-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications.

Methods

In this study, we employed the density functional theory-based methods to investigate the electronic and structural properties of graphene derivatives and LPC molecule using the Quantum Espresso package. The exchange–correlation functional was described within generalized gradient approximation (GGA) as parameterized by Perdew, Burke and Ernzerhof (PBE). The valence electrons were represented using plane wave basis sets. `The Grimme’s dispersion method was used to include the van der Waals dispersion correction.

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Acknowledgements

K. M. acknowledges the support and the resources provided by “PARAM Shivay Facility” under the National Supercomputing Mission, Government of India, at the Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi.

Funding

S. K. S. acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology (DST)—Nanomission [DST/NM/NB/2018/40 (G)], Government of India, for the financial support. K. M. acknowledges DST-INSPIRE (DST/INSPIRE/04/2018/002482), Government of India, for the financial support. A. R. P. is highly thankful to Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, for providing senior research fellowship [BMI/11(53)/2022] to carry out this research work. P. Y. and S. K. B. are sincerely thankful for their research fellowships from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India

    Abhishek R. Panigrahi, Pooja Yadav, Samir K. Beura & Sunil K. Singh

  2. Department of Applied Agriculture, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India

    Jyoti Singh

  3. Department of Physics, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India

    Saptarshi G. Dastider

  4. Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India

    Krishnakanta Mondal

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  1. Abhishek R. Panigrahi
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Contributions

A. R. P. developed, performed simulations, experiments and wrote the manuscript. S. K. S. and K. M. designed the research, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. P. Y., S. K. B., J. S., and S. G. D. analysed the data and edited the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sunil K. Singh or Krishnakanta Mondal.

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Panigrahi, A.R., Yadav, P., Beura, S.K. et al. Probing interaction of atherogenic lysophosphatidylcholine with functionalized graphene nanosheets: theoretical modelling and experimental validation. J Mol Model 29, 310 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00894-023-05717-y

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