Biomedical applications of the graphene-based materials

Abstract

Graphene, a rapidly rising star, has gained extensive research interests lately due to its excellent properties--such as the exceptional optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical features--which are superior to other materials, so it is called "two-dimensional magical materials". This article presents diverse types and various properties of graphene-based materials, and the current methods for the surface modifications of the graphene-based materials are briefly described. In addition, the in vivo and in vitro cytotoxicity of graphene-based materials are comprehensively discussed. What's more, a summary of its biomedical applications such as drug/gene delivery, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy is also offered. Finally, an outlook of the graphene-based materials and the challenges in this field are briefly discussed.

Keywords: Drug delivery; Gene delivery; Graphene-based materials; Photodynamical therapy; Photothermal therapy; Toxicity.