Protective effect of graphene heating film far-infrared hyperthermia against frostbite in mice

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.03.10

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the protective effects of graphene heating film far-infrared (FIR) hyperthermia therapy against frostbite in mice and its impacts on microcirculation and coagulation function. Methods Seventy-six C57BL/6J mice were randomized into control, model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups. After 7-day FIR intervention (4 h/day), the mice were subjected to acute (4 ℃, 4 h) and intermittent (4 ℃, 4 h/day for 3 days) cold exposure and the changes in rectal temperature were monitored. In liquid nitrogen frostbite experiment, 24 ICR mice were divided into model, graphene-FIR, and carbon fiber-FIR groups, and after a 7-day FIR pretreatment (4 h/day), the liquid nitrogen frostbite models were established and apparent scores of the wounds were assessed on days 3 and 6 after modeling. In carrageenan-induced thrombosis experiment, 40 ICR mice were allocated to control, model, graphene-FIR, carbon fiber-FIR, and prazosin groups to test the effect of a 7-day FIR intervention on thrombosis induced by intraperitoneal carrageenan injection (2.5 mg/kg) by measuring thrombus length, blood perfusion, and serum biomarkers (6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2, t-PA, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF‑α) 24 h after the injection. Results The mice in graphene-FIR group showed significantly elevated rectal temperature in cold exposure tests. In mice with liquid nitrogen-induced frostbite, graphene-FIR treatment significantly reduced the wound scores and reduced frostbite area, producing better effects than carbon fiber. In mice with carrageenan-induced thrombosis, graphene-FIR treatment significantly decreased tail thrombosis length and thrombosis area, increased blood perfusion, lowered serum levels of TXB2, TNF-α and IL-6, and increased the levels of 6-keto-PGF1α and t-PA. Conclusion Graphene heating film FIR therapy can alleviate frostbite injury in mice by improving microcirculation, suppressing thrombosis and inflammatory responses, and reducing coagulation dysfunction.

Key words: graphene heating film, far-infrared therapy, frostbite, microcirculation, inflammation

Jinshui ZHANG, Shuo LI, Dongdong WEI, Xin CHENG, Yun DENG, Youzhi ZHANG. Protective effect of graphene heating film far-infrared hyperthermia against frostbite in mice[J]. Journal of Southern Medical University, 2025, 45(3): 522-530.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig. 1 Procedures of infrared thermal imaging experiment (A), acute and intermittent cold exposure experiment (B-C), liquid nitrogen frostbite experiment (D) and carrageenan-induced thrombosis experiment (E).

Fig. 2 Characterization of properties of graphene and carbon fiber materials. A: Schematic diagram of FIR device. B: Electrothermal properties of graphene and carbon fiber. C: Absorption peak of the human body surface (8.0 µm) and FIR emission peaks of graphene (8 µm) and carbon fiber (7.6 µm). D: Peak comparison of graphene, carbon fiber and human body at 7.5-8.5 µm wavelength (graphene: 1.9 W, carbon ﬁber: 1.9 W). E, F: Surface temperature changes and analysis of graphene-FIR and carbon fiber-FIR mice after irradiation. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 between the two groups.

Fig.3 Rectal temperature of mice after acute (A) and intermittent cold exposure (B). *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs NC group, ##P<0.01 vs model group; $$P<0.01 vs Car group.

Fig. 4 Frostbite in the dorsal skin of the mice and temperature changes in the frostbite area (A) and comparison of wound temperatures among the 3 groups (B). ##P<0.01 vs model group.

Fig.5 Changes in apparent score of frostbite area in the mice on the 3rd day (A) and 6th day (B) after frostbite. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs model group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Gra group.

Fig. 6 Thrombus in the tail of the mice (A) and comparison of the length of thrombus among the 4 groups (B). **P<0.01 vs NC group; #P<0.05 vs Model group.

Fig. 7 Blood perfusion images of the mouse tails (A) and comparison of blood perfusion parameters at the root (B) and tail (C) among the 5 groups. **P<0.01 vs NC group; ##P<0.01 vs Model group; $P<0.05, $$P<0.01 vs Car group.

Fig. 8 HE staining of the tissues of mouse tails taken at 2, 4, and 6 cm from the tail tip in each group (Original magnification: ×200). The blue and red dotted lines show the vessel profile and the thrombi formed in the vein, respectively.

Fig. 9 Changes of serum thrombus factors 6-keto-PGF1α, TXB2 and t-PA (A-C) and the inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β (D-F). **P<0.01 vs NC group; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs Model group.

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