Emerging frontiers of graphene in biomedicine

Graphene is a next-generation biomaterial with increasing biomedical applicability. As a new class of one-atom-thick nanosheets, it is a true two-dimensional honeycomb network nanomaterial that attracts interest in various scientific fields and is rapidly becoming the most widely studied carbon-based material. Since its discovery in 2004, its unique optical, mechanical, electronic, thermal, and magnetic properties are the basis of exploration of the potential applicability of graphene. Graphene materials, such as graphene oxide and its reduced form, are studied extensively in the biotechnology arena owing to their multivalent functionalization and efficient surface loading with various biomolecules. This review provides a brief summary of the recent progress in graphene and graphene oxide biological research together with current findings to spark novel applications in biomedicine. Graphene-based applications are progressively developing; hence, the opportunities and challenges of this rapidly growing field are discussed together with the versatility of these multifaceted materials.