title: Antimicrobial graphene family materials: Progress, advances, hopes and fears.
abstract: Graphene-based materials have become very popular bionanotechnological instruments in the last few years. Since 2010, the graphene family materials have been recognized as worthy of attention due to its antimicrobial properties. Functionalization of graphene (or rather graphene oxide) surface creates the possibilities to obtain efficient antimicrobial agents. In this review, progress and advances in this field in the last few years are described and discussed. Special attention is devoted to materials based on graphene oxide in which specifically selected components significantly modify biological activity of this carbon structure. Short introduction concerns the physicochemical properties of the graphene family materials. In the section on antimicrobial properties, proposed mechanisms of activity against microorganisms are given showing enhanced action of nanocomposites also under light irradiation (photoinduced activity). Another important feature, i.e. toxicity against eukaryotic cells, is presented with up-to-date data. Taking into account all the information on the properties of the described materials and usefulness of the graphene family as antimicrobial agents, hopes and fears concerning their application are discussed. Finally, some examples of promising usage in medicine and other fields, e.g. in phytobiology and water remediation, are shown.
authors: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 2 Okolna St., 50-422 Wroclaw, Poland. Electronic address: A.Lukowiak@int.pan.wroc.pl.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Lukowiak
authors: Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Wroclaw, 63/77 Przybyszewskiego St., 51-148 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Kedziora
authors: Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 2 Okolna St., 50-422 Wroclaw, Poland.
authors: Wieslaw
authors: W
authors: Strek
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D005670:Fusarium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008027:Light; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010087:Oxides; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite
keywords: Biological activity; Composite; Functionalization; Graphene family; Graphene oxide