Abstract
Graphene-based nanomaterials have exhibited wide applications in nanotechnology, materials science, analytical science, and biomedical engineering due to their unique physical and chemical properties. In particular, graphene has been an excellent nanocarrier for drug delivery application because of its two-dimensional structure, large surface area, high stability, good biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. In this review, we present the recent advances in the synthesis and drug delivery application of graphene-based nanomaterials. The modification of graphene and the conjugation of graphene with other materials, such as small molecules, nanoparticles, polymers, and biomacromolecules as functional nanohybrids are introduced. In addition, the controlled drug delivery with the fabricated graphene-based nanomaterials are demonstrated in detail. It is expected that this review will guide the chemical modification of graphene for designing novel functional nanohybrids. It will also promote the potential applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in other biomedical fields, like biosensing and tissue engineering.
Highlights
The design and fabrication of gene and drug delivery systems with high loading and release performances are important for improving the therapeutic efficiency of diseases [1,2]
It is clear that graphene-based nanomaterials play important roles in improving the drug loading and release performances
When some other nanoscale building blocks, like small molecules, nanoparticles, polymers, DNA, proteins, and peptides were modified onto graphene or graphene oxide (GO), both biological properties and drug delivery function could be enhanced to a great extent
Summary
The design and fabrication of gene and drug delivery systems with high loading and release performances are important for improving the therapeutic efficiency of diseases [1,2] Various nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles [3], polymers [4,5], carbon nanotubes [6], and others [7]. In 2008, Dai and co-worker for the first time reported the synthesis of nanoscale graphene oxide (GO) for drug delivery application [14]. They found that the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified GO could be utilized to load the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin by π stacking and kill cancer cells in vitro. This review will be helpful for understanding the drug delivery mechanisms of materials, the functionalization of graphene, and the design of functional hybrid nanomaterials for various applications
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