3 - Synthesis of graphene and graphene oxide and their medical applications

Abstract

Owing to their exceptional electronic, mechanical, thermal, and optical properties; graphene, graphene oxide, and their derivatives have been the focus of attention for the research community. Additionally, their large surface area, availability of numerous tunable defect sites, and plausibility of surface functionalization make them highly useful materials in diverse applications. These materials have promising contributions in the field of medical science and are being utilized in various applications like biosensing, bioimaging, targeted drug delivery, theranostics, tissue engineering, antimicrobial applications, etc. The investigation of these two-dimensional materials for their stability, biocompatibility/toxicity, solubility, and loading capacity of various biomolecules is also a major concern in the field of biomedical research. This chapter focuses on the synthesis of graphene and graphene oxide and summarizes the interactions of these materials with various biomolecules. The major thrust of the chapter is allocated to the recent advancements in the medical applications of these two-dimensional graphitic materials.