A comprehensive review of graphene-based aerogels for biomedical applications. The impact of synthesis parameters onto material microstructure and porosity

Abstract

Graphene-based aerogels (GA) have a high potential in the biomedical engineering field due to high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, high porosity, and adsorption capacity. Thanks to this, they can be used as scaffolds in bone tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery and nerve tissue engineering. In this review, a current state of knowledge of graphene (Gn) and graphene oxide (GO) aerogels and their composites used in biomedical application is described in detail. A special focus is paid first on the methods of obtaining highly porous materials by visualizing the precursors and describing main methods of Gn and GO aerogel synthesis. The impact of synthesis parameters onto aerogel microstructure and porosity is discussed according to current knowledge. Subsequent sections deal with aerogels intended to address specific therapeutic demands. Here we discuss the recent methods used to improve Gn and GO aerogels biocompatibility. We explore the various types of GA reported to date and how their architecture impacts their ultimate ability to mimic natural tissue environment. On this basis, we summarized the research status of graphene-based aerogels and put forward the challenges and outlook of graphene-based aerogels dedicated to biomedical usage especially by formation of joints with biocompatible metals.