Preparation, properties, applications and outlook of graphene-based materials in biomedical field: a comprehensive review

Abstract

Graphene, the world’s thinnest two-dimensional (2D) carbon material, with the highly ordered and repeated atomic structure and its excellent properties such as mechanical, electrical, optical, chemical, and thermal properties, has been extensively studied and applied in materialogy, physics, biomedicine and other fields in recent years. In the case of biomedical applications, the advent of graphene-based materials (GBMs) has resulted in excellent biomedical materials with a wide range of applications. Compared with the published reviews of graphene-based biomedical materials, we systematically and comprehensively introduced the properties of graphene-based biomaterials from the perspective of biomedical applications. In addition, we introduced the structure and preparation methods of graphene and its derivatives, and summarized recent advances on GBMs in the biomedical field, including drug carriers, biosensors, tissue engineering, antimicrobial materials, and other forms of exploration for medical heating, radiation shielding, surgical suturing, and wastewater treatment. Finally, we discussed the current problems and challenges of GBMs and the prospect for the future development in the biomedical field.

Graphical Abstract