Biomedical Uses for 2D Materials Beyond Graphene: Current Advances and Challenges Ahead

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Two-dimensional materials (2DMs) possess unique physicochemical and electronic properties, driving interdisciplinary research for biomedical applications beyond graphene.
• The diverse chemical compositions and tunable characteristics of 2DMs attract researchers for applications in drug delivery, photothermal therapy, diagnostics, biosensing, and tissue engineering.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of current biomedical applications of 2DMs.
• To highlight the potential of novel 2DMs in advanced therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
• To identify key challenges and future research directions for the clinical translation of 2DMs.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent studies on 2DMs in biomedical fields.
• Analysis of the properties and applications of various 2DMs.
• Discussion of limitations and future research needs.

Main Results:

• 2DMs are explored for drug delivery, photothermal therapy, multimodal therapeutics, biosensing, and tissue engineering.
• Challenges include moderate colloidal stability in aqueous media and lack of suitable functionalization strategies.
• Fundamental research on biocompatibility, toxicology, and biopersistence is crucial for clinical translation.

Conclusions:

• 2DMs offer significant potential for diverse biomedical applications.
• Addressing limitations in stability, functionalization, and safety is essential for clinical translation.
• Continued interdisciplinary research is vital to harness the full potential of 2DMs in medicine.