ijms-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Graphene: Biological Applications

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 January 2019) | Viewed by 47904

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a closely-packed honeycomb two-dimensional structure, is a new kind of carbon nanostructure material that was produced for the first time in 2004. Graphene has been exploited in many applications and the use of graphene in the biomedical field is rapidly growing. Recent years have seen the explosion of graphene-based materials biomedical research, owing to the captivating physical and chemical properties of this family of nanomaterials and thousands of scientific papers have been published since 2010, the year of Geim and Novoselov Graphene Nobel Prize.

The versatile chemistry of graphene-based nanomaterials including the capability to conjugate with water soluble and water insoluble active compounds, DNA, proteins, cells, targeting agents or polymers makes them a desirable nanoplatform for advanced biotechnological applications. Graphene derivates can be designed for drug and gene delivery applications or to realize antibacterial biocompatible scaffolds for the growth and proliferation of human stem cells. The graphene capability to confine light opens the possibility to develop ultrasensitive biosensors and can be applied for therapeutic functions together with imaging capabilities. Since graphene and graphene derivatives are a versatile platform across various biomedical disciplines, in this Special Issue, we aim to illustrate areas of promise and identify future challenges.

Prof. Massimiliano Papi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Graphene
  • Graphene oxide
  • Drug Delivery
  • Gene Delivery
  • Animicrobial
  • Tissue Engineering
  • Biosensor
  • Imaging
  • Theranostics
  • Photothermal Therapy

Published Papers (8 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 1785 KiB  
Article
Polyaniline Functionalized Graphene Nanoelectrodes for the Regeneration of PC12 Cells via Electrical Stimulation
by Zheng Zheng, Libin Huang, Lu Yan, Feng Yuan, Lefeng Wang, Ke Wang, Tom Lawson, Mimi Lin and Yong Liu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(8), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20082013 - 24 Apr 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3152
Abstract
The regeneration of neurons is an important goal of neuroscience and clinical medicine. The electrical stimulation of cells is a promising technique to meet this goal. However, its efficiency highly depends on the electrochemical properties of the stimulation electrodes used. This work reports [...] Read more.
The regeneration of neurons is an important goal of neuroscience and clinical medicine. The electrical stimulation of cells is a promising technique to meet this goal. However, its efficiency highly depends on the electrochemical properties of the stimulation electrodes used. This work reports on the preparation and use of a highly electroactive and biocompatible nanoelectrode made from a novel polyaniline functionalized graphene composite. This nanocomposite was prepared using a facile and efficient polymerization-enhanced ball-milling method. It was used to stimulate the growth of PC12 cells under various electrical fields. The enhanced growth of axons and improved wound regeneration of PC12 cells were observed after this treatment, suggesting a promising strategy for neuro traumatology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

27 pages, 12519 KiB  
Article
Effects of Reduced Graphene Oxides on Apoptosis and Cell Cycle of Glioblastoma Multiforme
by Jaroslaw Szczepaniak, Barbara Strojny, Ewa Sawosz Chwalibog, Slawomir Jaworski, Joanna Jagiello, Magdalena Winkowska, Maciej Szmidt, Mateusz Wierzbicki, Malwina Sosnowska, Jasmina Balaban, Anna Winnicka, Ludwika Lipinska, Olga Witkowska Pilaszewicz and Marta Grodzik
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(12), 3939; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19123939 - 07 Dec 2018
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6015
Abstract
Graphene (GN) and its derivatives (rGOs) show anticancer properties in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo. We compared the anti-tumor effects of rGOs with different oxygen contents with those of GN, and determined the characteristics of rGOs useful [...] Read more.
Graphene (GN) and its derivatives (rGOs) show anticancer properties in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells in vitro and in tumors in vivo. We compared the anti-tumor effects of rGOs with different oxygen contents with those of GN, and determined the characteristics of rGOs useful in anti-glioblastoma therapy using the U87 glioblastoma line. GN/ExF, rGO/Term, rGO/ATS, and rGO/TUD were structurally analysed via transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and AFM. Zeta potential, oxygen content, and electrical resistance were determined. We analyzed the viability, metabolic activity, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and cell cycle. Caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways were investigated by analyzing gene expression. rGO/TUD induced the greatest decrease in the metabolic activity of U87 cells. rGO/Term induced the highest level of apoptosis compared with that induced by GN/ExF. rGO/ATS induced a greater decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential than GN/ExF. No significant changes were observed in the cytometric study of the cell cycle. The effectiveness of these graphene derivatives was related to the presence of oxygen-containing functional groups and electron clouds. Their cytotoxicity mechanism may involve electron clouds, which are smaller in rGOs, decreasing their cytotoxic effect. Overall, cytotoxic activity involved depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the induction of apoptosis in U87 glioblastoma cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2685 KiB  
Article
Graphene Oxide Induced Osteogenesis Quantification by In-Situ 2D-Fluorescence Spectroscopy
by Valentina Palmieri, Marta Barba, Lorena Di Pietro, Claudio Conti, Marco De Spirito, Wanda Lattanzi and Massimiliano Papi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113336 - 26 Oct 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3767
Abstract
Graphene and graphene oxide can promote the adhesion, growth and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Further, graphene surface coatings accelerate the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells acting as osteogenic inducers. Quantification of the osteogenic induction is conventionally performed with Alizarin Red S [...] Read more.
Graphene and graphene oxide can promote the adhesion, growth and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Further, graphene surface coatings accelerate the differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells acting as osteogenic inducers. Quantification of the osteogenic induction is conventionally performed with Alizarin Red S (ARS), an anthraquinone derivative used to identify calcium deposits in tissue sections and cell cultures. The ARS staining is quite versatile because the dye forms an Alizarin Red S–calcium complex that can be extracted from the stained monolayer of cells and readily assayed by absorbance measurements. Direct visualization of stained deposits is also feasible; however, an in-situ visualization and quantification of deposits is possible only on transparent supports and not on thick opaque materials like ceramics and graphene composites that are well-known inducers of osteogenesis. In this manuscript, the shape of the 2D-fluorescence spectra of the ARS-calcium complex is used to develop a method to detect and monitor the in-situ differentiation process occurring during the osteogenic induction mediated by opaque graphene oxide surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 3398 KiB  
Article
Optical Graphene-Based Biosensor for Nucleic Acid Detection; Influence of Graphene Functionalization and Ionic Strength
by Diana F. Becheru, George M. Vlăsceanu, Adela Banciu, Eugeniu Vasile, Mariana Ioniţă and Jorge S. Burns
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103230 - 19 Oct 2018
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4322
Abstract
A main challenge for optical graphene-based biosensors detecting nucleic acid is the selection of key parameters e.g. graphenic chemical structure, nanomaterial dispersion, ionic strength, and appropriate molecular interaction mechanisms. Herein we study interactions between a fluorescein-labelled DNA (FAM-DNA) probe and target single-stranded complementary [...] Read more.
A main challenge for optical graphene-based biosensors detecting nucleic acid is the selection of key parameters e.g. graphenic chemical structure, nanomaterial dispersion, ionic strength, and appropriate molecular interaction mechanisms. Herein we study interactions between a fluorescein-labelled DNA (FAM-DNA) probe and target single-stranded complementary DNA (cDNA) on three graphenic species, aiming to determine the most suitable platform for nucleic acid detection. Graphene oxide (GO), carboxyl graphene (GO-COOH) and reduced graphene oxide functionalized with PEGylated amino groups (rGO-PEG-NH2, PEG (polyethylene glycol)) were dispersed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The influence of ionic strength on molecular interaction with DNA was examined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) comparing fluorescence intensity and anisotropy. Results indicated an effect of graphene functionalization, dispersion and concentration-dependent quenching, with GO and GO-COOH having the highest quenching abilities for FAM-DNA. Furthermore, GO and GO-COOH quenching was accentuated by the addition of either MgCl2 or MgSO4 cations. At 10 mM MgCl2 or MgSO4, the cDNA induced a decrease in fluorescence signal that was 2.7-fold for GO, 3.4-fold for GO-COOH and 4.1-fold for rGO-PEG-NH2. Best results, allowing accurate target detection, were observed when selecting rGO-PEG-NH2, MgCl2 and fluorescence anisotropy as an advantageous combination suitable for nucleic acid detection and further rational design biosensor development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 10370 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Functionalized Graphene Oxide Carrier for siRNA Delivery
by Jing Li, Xu Ge, Chunying Cui, Yifan Zhang, Yifan Wang, Xiaoli Wang and Qi Sun
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(10), 3202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19103202 - 17 Oct 2018
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3540
Abstract
A successful siRNA delivery system is dependent on the development of a good siRNA carrier. Graphene oxide (GO) has gained great attention as a promising nanocarrier in recent years. It has been reported that GO could be used to deliver a series of [...] Read more.
A successful siRNA delivery system is dependent on the development of a good siRNA carrier. Graphene oxide (GO) has gained great attention as a promising nanocarrier in recent years. It has been reported that GO could be used to deliver a series of drugs including synthetic compounds, proteins, antibodies, and genes. Our previous research indicated that functionalized GO could deliver siRNA into tumor cells and induce a gene silencing effect, to follow up the research, in this research, GO-R8/cRGDfV(GRcR) was designed and prepared for VEGF-siRNA delivery as a novel carrier. The Zeta potential and particle size of the new designed GRcR carrier was measured at (29.46 ± 5.32) mV and (135.7 ± 3.3) nm respectively, and after transfection, the VEGF mRNA level and protein expression level were down-regulated by 48.22% (p < 0.01) and 38.3% (p < 0.01) in HeLa cells, respectively. The fluorescent images of the treated BALB/c nude mice revealed that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could conduct targeted delivery of VEGF-siRNA into tumor tissues and showed a gene silencing effect as well as a tumor growth inhibitory effect (p < 0.01) in vivo. Further studies showed that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could effectively inhibit angiogenesis by suppressing VEGF expression. Histology and immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could inhibit tumor tissue growth effectively and have anti-angiogenesis activity, which was the result of VEGF protein downregulation. Both in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that GRcR/VEGF-siRNA could be used as an ideal nonviral tumor-targeting vector for VEGF-siRNA delivery in gene therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

25 pages, 15087 KiB  
Review
Graphene- and Graphene Oxide-Based Nanocomposite Platforms for Electrochemical Biosensing Applications
by Madasamy Thangamuthu, Kuan Yu Hsieh, Priyank V. Kumar and Guan-Yu Chen
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(12), 2975; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20122975 - 18 Jun 2019
Cited by 91 | Viewed by 6758
Abstract
Graphene and its derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced GO (rGO) offer excellent electrical, mechanical and electrochemical properties. Further, due to the presence of high surface area, and a rich oxygen and defect framework, they are able to form nanocomposites with [...] Read more.
Graphene and its derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced GO (rGO) offer excellent electrical, mechanical and electrochemical properties. Further, due to the presence of high surface area, and a rich oxygen and defect framework, they are able to form nanocomposites with metal/semiconductor nanoparticles, metal oxides, quantum dots and polymers. Such nanocomposites are becoming increasingly useful as electrochemical biosensing platforms. In this review, we present a brief introduction on the aforementioned graphene derivatives, and discuss their synthetic strategies and structure–property relationships important for biosensing. We then highlight different nanocomposite platforms that have been developed for electrochemical biosensing, introducing enzymatic biosensors, followed by non-enzymatic biosensors and immunosensors. Additionally, we briefly discuss their role in the emerging field of biomedical cell capture. Finally, a brief outlook on these topics is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2840 KiB  
Review
Graphene Optical Biosensors
by Zongwen Li, Wenfei Zhang and Fei Xing
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2019, 20(10), 2461; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20102461 - 18 May 2019
Cited by 62 | Viewed by 5568
Abstract
Graphene shows great potential in biosensing owing to its extraordinary optical, electrical and physical properties. In particular, graphene possesses unique optical properties, such as broadband and tunable absorption, and strong polarization-dependent effects. This lays a foundation for building graphene-based optical sensors. This paper [...] Read more.
Graphene shows great potential in biosensing owing to its extraordinary optical, electrical and physical properties. In particular, graphene possesses unique optical properties, such as broadband and tunable absorption, and strong polarization-dependent effects. This lays a foundation for building graphene-based optical sensors. This paper selectively reviews recent advances in graphene-based optical sensors and biosensors. Graphene-based optical biosensors can be used for single cell detection, cell line, and anticancer drug detection, protein and antigen–antibody detection. These new high-performance graphene-based optical sensors are able to detect surface structural changes and biomolecular interactions. In all these cases, the optical biosensors perform well with ultra-fast detection, high sensitivities, unmarked, and are able to respond in real time. The future of the field of graphene applications is also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

36 pages, 8530 KiB  
Review
Graphene Nanomaterials: Synthesis, Biocompatibility, and Cytotoxicity
by Chengzhu Liao, Yuchao Li and Sie Chin Tjong
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(11), 3564; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19113564 - 12 Nov 2018
Cited by 279 | Viewed by 13933
Abstract
Graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide have been widely considered as promising candidates for industrial and biomedical applications due to their exceptionally high mechanical stiffness and strength, excellent electrical conductivity, high optical transparency, and good biocompatibility. In this article, we reviewed several [...] Read more.
Graphene, graphene oxide, and reduced graphene oxide have been widely considered as promising candidates for industrial and biomedical applications due to their exceptionally high mechanical stiffness and strength, excellent electrical conductivity, high optical transparency, and good biocompatibility. In this article, we reviewed several techniques that are available for the synthesis of graphene-based nanomaterials, and discussed the biocompatibility and toxicity of such nanomaterials upon exposure to mammalian cells under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Various synthesis strategies have been developed for their fabrication, generating graphene nanomaterials with different chemical and physical properties. As such, their interactions with cells and organs are altered accordingly. Conflicting results relating biocompatibility and cytotoxicity induced by graphene nanomaterials have been reported in the literature. In particular, graphene nanomaterials that are used for in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal models may contain toxic chemical residuals, thereby interfering graphene-cell interactions and complicating interpretation of experimental results. Synthesized techniques, such as liquid phase exfoliation and wet chemical oxidation, often required toxic organic solvents, surfactants, strong acids, and oxidants for exfoliating graphite flakes. Those organic molecules and inorganic impurities that are retained in final graphene products can interact with biological cells and tissues, inducing toxicity or causing cell death eventually. The residual contaminants can cause a higher risk of graphene-induced toxicity in biological cells. This adverse effect may be partly responsible for the discrepancies between various studies in the literature. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Graphene: Biological Applications)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop