Graphene in neurosurgery: the beginning of a new era.
Nanotechnology has revolutionized the approach to different fields of industry and medicine. Among the new nanomaterial used, one of the most promising appears to be graphene. Its versatility, due to a particular chemical configuration, confers to it enormous potential of application. Graphene has recently been tested also in biomedical research with excellent results. Neurosurgery can benefit of this material for therapeutic purposes such as targeting controlled drug/gene delivery in brain tumor treatment, as well as photothermal and photodynamic cancer therapy, improving biosensing and bioimaging, and lastly as biocompatible material for intracranial and/or spinal devices. However, it still remains an experimental material whose in vitro and in vivo toxicity is tested with controversial results for the human health. Noteworthy is the fact that it is not possible so far to know its long-term toxicity.
Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina, Italy.
Maria
M
Caffo
Neurosurgical Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, University of Messina School of Medicine, Messina, Italy.
Caffo
C
Maria
Lucia
L
Merlo
Merlo
M
Lucia
Daniele
D
Marino
Marino
M
Daniele
Gerardo
G
Caruso
Caruso
C
Gerardo
D000818:Animals; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008958:Models, Molecular; D050997:Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000379:methods*
D006108:Graphite
graphene; graphene oxide; neurosurgery; photothermal activity; toxicity