Biomedical application of graphene: From drug delivery, tumor therapy, to theranostics

Abstract

The rise of graphene has driven great revolution in various fields, e. g. electronics, device, energy, etc., owing to the well-researched understanding of its physical and chemical properties. In the very recent decade, scientists have poured significant efforts to explore the biological functions of graphene and expand its biomedical applications, including drug delivery, tumor therapy, and theranostics. Encouraged by the inspiring research results and promising contributions of graphene to biomedicine field, herein, we systematically summarize the recent advance of graphene for biomedical application. In this review, we introduce the development of graphene in biomedicine, from drug delivery, tumor therapy, to theranostics. We also demonstrate the surface engineering and multifunctional modification of graphene, and further present the active role of rational decoration in drug delivery, therapy, and theranostic application. In detail, we summarize the surface engineering, active-targeting modification, stimuli-responsive decoration, and their application in anticancer drugs delivery, multiple therapeutic approach, dual-model imaging guided therapy. On the basis of the systematic summary, in the final, we further present the development tendency of graphene in biomedicine, aiming to provide some valuable guidelines for further research.

Keywords: Biomedical application; Drug delivery; Graphene; Theranostics; Tumor therapy.