title: Biomedical applications of the graphene-based materials.
abstract: Graphene, a rapidly rising star, has gained extensive research interests lately due to its excellent properties--such as the exceptional optical, electrical, thermal and mechanical features--which are superior to other materials, so it is called "two-dimensional magical materials". This article presents diverse types and various properties of graphene-based materials, and the current methods for the surface modifications of the graphene-based materials are briefly described. In addition, the in vivo and in vitro cytotoxicity of graphene-based materials are comprehensively discussed. What's more, a summary of its biomedical applications such as drug/gene delivery, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy is also offered. Finally, an outlook of the graphene-based materials and the challenges in this field are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Baomei
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China. Electronic address: professorgxzhai@126.com.
authors.forename: Guangxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhai
mesh_terms: D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010789:Phototherapy
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Drug delivery; Gene delivery; Graphene-based materials; Photodynamical therapy; Photothermal therapy; Toxicity