Beschreibung:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Graphene oxide (GO) is considered a promising material for biological application due to its unique properties. However, the potential toxicity of GO to aquatic organism particularly bluegill sun fish cells (BF‐2) is unexplored or remains poorly understood. GO‐induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in BF‐2 cells were assessed using a battery of biomarkers. Two different biological assays (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and neutral red uptake were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of GO on BF‐2 cells. It was found that GO induced dose‐ and time‐dependent cytotoxicity on BF‐2 cells. BF‐2 cells exposed to lower concentration of GO (40 μg ml<jats:sup>–1</jats:sup>) for 24 induced morphological changes when compared to their respective controls. As evidence for oxidative stress lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase, catalase, reactive oxygen species and 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine levels were increased and glutathione levels were found to decline in BF‐2 cells after treatment with GO. Our findings demonstrate that GO when exposed to BF‐2 fish cells cause oxidative stress.</jats:p>