Graphene-Based Nanomaterials for Theranostic Applications

Abstract

Graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials such as graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained a lot of attention from diverse scienti¯c¯elds for applications in sensing, catalysis, nanoelectronics, material engineering, energy storage and biomedicine due to its unique structural, optical, electrical and mechanical properties. Graphene-based nanomaterials emerge as a novel class of nanomedicine for cancer therapy for several reasons. Firstly, its structural properties like high surface area and aromaticity enables easy loading of hydrophobic drugs. Secondly, presence of oxygen containing functional groups improve its physiological stability and also act as site for biofunctionalization. Thirdly, its optical absorption in the NIR region enable them to act as photoagents for photothermal and photodynamic therapies of cancer, both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, its intrinsic°u orescence property helps in bioimaging of cancer cells. Overall, graphene-based nanomaterials can act as agents for developing multifunctional theranostic platforms for carrying out more e±cient detection and treatment of cancers. This review provides a detailed summary of the di®erent applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in drug delivery, nucleic acid delivery, phototherapy, bioimaging and theranostics.

Synthesis of Graphene Nanoribbons–Hydroxyapatite Nanocomposite Applicable in Biomedicine and Theranostics

“…Synthesized powders and consolidated samples were characterized by various methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and Vickers indentation technique. So far, a lot of research has been done on the applications of HA and graphene materials in the field of theranostics, which confirms the capabilities of these materials in this field [46][47][48][49][50][51]. Given that each phase of the nanocomposite has the potential to be used in biomaterials and theranostics, the synthesized nanocomposite is expected to be usable in biological and theranostic applications.…”

2D MoS2‐Based Nanomaterials for Therapeutic, Bioimaging, and Biosensing Applications

“…Till date, a number of nanocarriers based on graphene, polymers, metal nanoparticles, and many others have been reported for therapeutic and diagnostic applications . Among the class of 2D nanomaterials that are being explored as nanomedicine platforms, MoS 2 has emerged as a potential candidate for applications in cancer theranostics .…”

“…Graphene, the first known 2D material, attracted tremendous interest due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and optical properties . Graphene and its composite have been successfully used in sensors, energy devices, catalysis, electronics, and nanomedicine . However, the inherent shortcomings, such as intrinsic defects, chemical inertness, and zero bandgap have led to the search and development of better alternatives.…”

Graphene and Graphene‐Based Materials in Biomedical Science

“…In this manner, various researchers have used natural fluorescent dyes to functionalize GO/rGO for in vitro and in vivo FL imaging. For example, a NIR dye, Cy7, conjugated nGO–PEG (nGO–PEG–Cy7) has been developed and utilized for in vivo FL imaging of tumor xenografted mice, showing enhanced tumor aggregation of nGO–PEG–Cy7 in light of the enhanced permeability and retention impact of carcinogenic tumors . A multifunctional VEGF‐stacked IRDye800‐conjugated graphene oxide (GO–IRDye800–VEGF) for FL imaging of ischemic muscle tissues in the murine hind limb ischemia model has been demonstrated.…”

“…For example, a NIR dye, Cy7, conjugated nGO-PEG (nGO-PEG-Cy7) has been developed and utilized for in vivo FL imaging of tumor xenografted mice, showing enhanced tumor aggregation of nGO-PEG-Cy7 in light of the enhanced permeability and retention impact of carcinogenic tumors. [289] A multifunctional VEGF-stacked IRDye800-conjugated graphene oxide (GO-IRDye800-VEGF) for FL imaging of ischemic muscle tissues in the murine hind limb ischemia model has been demonstrated. The fluorescence intensity of ischemic limbs is more grounded than that of nonischemic limbs at all tried time focuses after intravenous organization, proposing that GO-IRDye800-VEGF could effectively target ischemic muscle, likely inferable from the expanded porousness of veins in hypoxic tissues.…”