Potential Biomedical Limitations of Graphene Nanomaterials

Computational assessment of the use of graphene-based nanosheets as PtII chemotherapeutics delivery systems

Graphene is the newest form of elemental carbon and it is becoming rapidly a potential candidate in the framework of nano-bio research. Many reports confirm the successful use of graphene-based materials as carriers of anticancer drugs having relatively high loading capacities compared with other nanocarriers. Here, the outcomes of a systematic study of the adsorption behavior of FDA approved PtII drugs cisplatin, oxaliplatin, and carboplatin on surface models of pristine, holey, and nitrogen-doped holey graphene are reported. DFT investigations in water solvent have been carried out considering several initial orientations of the drugs with respect to the surfaces. Adsorption free energies, calculated including basis set superposition error (BSSE) corrections, result to be significantly negative for many of the drug@carrier adducts indicating that tested layers could be used as potential carriers for the delivery of anticancer PtII drugs. The reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis allows to show that many kinds of non-covalent interactions, including canonical H-bond, are responsible for the stabilization of the formed adducts.

A Narrative Review on the Promising Potential of Graphene in Vaccine Design: Evaluating the Benefits and Drawbacks of Carbon Nanoplates in Nanovaccine Production

Graphene, a two-dimensional material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice, has shown great potential in various fields, including biomedicine. When it comes to vaccine development, graphene can offer several advantages due to its unique properties. Potential applications of graphene in vaccine development include improved vaccine delivery, adjuvant properties, improved vaccine stability, improved immune response, and biosensing capabilities. Although graphene offers many potential benefits in vaccine development, there are also some drawbacks and challenges associated with its use. Although graphene shows promising potential for vaccine development, overcoming the challenges and limitations associated with its use is critical to realizing its full potential in the field of immunization. Further research and development efforts are needed to overcome these drawbacks and take advantage of graphene for improved vaccine formulations. In this review, we focus on the advantages and disadvantages of graphene for vaccine development.

Chasing Graphene-Based Anticancer Drugs: Where are We Now on the Biomedical Graphene Roadmap?

Graphene and graphene-based materials have attracted growing interest for potential applications in medicine because of their good biocompatibility, cargo capability and possible surface functionalizations. In parallel, prototypic graphene-based devices have been developed to diagnose, imaging and track tumor growth in cancer patients. There is a growing number of reports on the use of graphene and its functionalized derivatives in the design of innovative drugs delivery systems, photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy, and as a platform to combine multiple therapies. The aim of this review is to introduce the latest scientific achievements in the field of innovative composite graphene materials as potentially applied in cancer therapy. The "Technology and Innovation Roadmap" published in the Graphene Flagship indicates, that the first anti-cancer drugs using graphene and graphene-derived materials will have appeared on the market by 2030. However, it is necessary to broaden understanding of graphene-based material interactions with cellular metabolism and signaling at the functional level, as well as toxicity. The main aspects of further research should elucidate how treatment methods (e.g., photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, combination therapy) and the physicochemical properties of graphene materials influence their ability to modulate autophagy and kill cancer cells. Interestingly, recent scientific reports also prove that graphene nanocomposites modulate cancer cell death by inducing precise autophagy dysfunctions caused by lysosome damage. It turns out as well that developing photothermal oncological treatments, it should be taken into account that near-infrared-II radiation (1000-1500 nm) is a better option than NIR-I (750-1000 nm) because it can penetrate deeper into tissues due to less scattering at longer wavelengths radiation.

A Journey of Challenges and Victories: A Bibliometric Worldview of Nanomedicine since the 21st Century

Nanotechnology profoundly affects the advancement of medicine. Limitations in diagnosing and treating cancer and chronic diseases promote the growth of nanomedicine. However, there are very few analytical and descriptive studies regarding the trajectory of nanomedicine, key research powers, present research landscape, focal investigative points, and future outlooks. Herein, articles and reviews published in the Science Citation Index Expanded of Web of Science Core Collection from first January 2000 to 18th July 2023 are analyzed. Herein, a bibliometric visualization of publication trends, countries/regions, institutions, journals, research categories, themes, references, and keywords is produced and elaborated. Nanomedicine-related academic output is increasing since the COVID-19 pandemic, solidifying the uneven global distribution of research performance. While China leads in terms of publication quantity and has numerous highly productive institutions, the USA has advantages in academic impact, commercialization, and industrial value. Nanomedicine integrates with other disciplines, establishing interdisciplinary platforms, in which drug delivery and nanoparticles remain focal points. Current research focuses on integrating nanomedicine and cell ferroptosis induction in cancer immunotherapy. The keyword "burst testing" identifies promising research directions, including immunogenic cell death, chemodynamic therapy, tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy, and extracellular vesicles. The prospects, major challenges, and barriers to addressing these directions are discussed.

Resorbable conductive materials for optimally interfacing medical devices with the living

Implantable and wearable bioelectronic systems are arising growing interest in the medical field. Linking the microelectronic (electronic conductivity) and biological (ionic conductivity) worlds, the biocompatible conductive materials at the electrode/tissue interface are key components in these systems. We herein focus more particularly on resorbable bioelectronic systems, which can safely degrade in the biological environment once they have completed their purpose, namely, stimulating or sensing biological activity in the tissues. Resorbable conductive materials are also explored in the fields of tissue engineering and 3D cell culture. After a short description of polymer-based substrates and scaffolds, and resorbable electrical conductors, we review how they can be combined to design resorbable conductive materials. Although these materials are still emerging, various medical and biomedical applications are already taking shape that can profoundly modify post-operative and wound healing follow-up. Future challenges and perspectives in the field are proposed.

Fine-Tuned Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite: Harnessing Copper(II)-Imidazole Complex for Enhanced Biological Responses and Balanced Photocatalytic Functionality

In this study, the synthesis of biologically active copper(II) complex [Cu(im)2]Cl2 was achieved using a reported method. Subsequently, this copper(II) complex was strategically grafted onto graphene oxide, resulting in the formation of a nanocomposite denoted as copper(II)-complex-grafted graphene oxide (Cu-GO). The comprehensive characterization of Cu-GO was conducted through various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectroscopy, emission spectra analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Copper K-edge X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy. The antibacterial efficacy of Cu-GO compounds was assessed using disk diffusion and microbroth dilution methods. Notably, the copper complex exhibited the highest effectiveness, showcasing a Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 500 µL against Klebsiella bacteria. The antibacterial activities of all compounds were systematically screened, revealing the superior performance of the copper complex compared to standalone copper compounds. Expanding the scope of the investigation, we explored the antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of the copper complexes against Klebsiella organisms. The results underscore promising directions for the further exploration of the diverse health-related applications of these compounds. Moreover, the photocatalytic performance of the Cu-GO nanocomposite was evaluated under sunlight irradiation. Notably, the antioxidant and anti-obesity activities of Cu-GO, assessed in terms of percentage inhibition at a concentration of 200 mg/mL, exhibited values of 41% and 45%, respectively. Additionally, the Cu-GO composite exhibited exceptional efficacy, achieving a degradation efficiency of 74% for RhB under sunlight irradiation, surpassing both graphite and GO. These findings not only demonstrate enhanced biological activity, but also highlight a notable level of moderate photocatalytic performance. Such dual functionality underscores the potential versatility of Cu-GO nanocomposites across various applications, blending heightened biological efficacy with controlled photocatalysis. Our study offers valuable insights into the multifunctional attributes of copper(II)-complex-grafted graphene oxide nanocomposites, thereby paving the way for their broader utilization in diverse fields.

Potential of graphene-based nanomaterials for cardiac tissue engineering

Cardiovascular diseases are the primary cause of death worldwide. Despite significant advances in pharmacological treatments and surgical interventions to restore heart function after myocardial infarction, it can progress to heart failure due to the restricted inherent potential of adult cardiomyocytes to self-regenerate. Hence, the evolution of new therapeutic methods is critical. Nowadays, novel approaches in tissue engineering have assisted in restoring biological and physical specifications of the injured myocardium and, hence, cardiac function. The incorporation of a supporting matrix that could mechanically and electronically support the heart tissue and stimulate the cells to proliferate and regenerate will be advantageous. Electroconductive nanomaterials can facilitate intracellular communication and aid synchronous contraction via electroactive substrate creation, preventing the issue of arrhythmia in the heart. Among a wide range of electroconductive materials, graphene-based nanomaterials (GBNs) are promising for cardiac tissue engineering (CTE) due to their outstanding features including high mechanical strength, angiogenesis, antibacterial and antioxidant properties, low cost, and scalable fabrication. In the present review, we discuss the effect of applying GBNs on angiogenesis, proliferation, and differentiation of implanted stem cells, their antibacterial and antioxidant properties, and their role in improving the electrical and mechanical properties of the scaffolds for CTE. Also, we summarize the recent research that has applied GBNs in CTE. Finally, we present a concise discussion on the challenges and prospects.