Graphene for multi-functional synthetic biology: the last 'zeitgeist' in nanomedicine.

The high versatility of graphene has attracted significant attention in many areas of scientific research from electronics to physics and mechanics. One of the most intriguing utilisation of graphene remains however in nanomedicine and synthetic biology. In particular, the last decade has witnessed an exponential growth in the generation of novel candidate therapeutics of multiple biological activities based on graphene constructs with small molecules, such as anti-cancer drugs. In this Digest, we summarise the different synthetic strategies and routes available to fabricate these promising graphene conjugates and the opportunities for the design of multi-functional tools for synthetic biology that they offer.

[1]  A. Bourlinos,et al.  Organic functionalisation of graphenes. , 2010, Chemical communications.

[2]  Kai Yang,et al.  In vitro and in vivo behaviors of dextran functionalized graphene , 2011 .

[3]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  Raman spectrum of graphene and graphene layers. , 2006, Physical review letters.

[4]  T. Yen,et al.  Non‐Invasive Synergistic Treatment of Brain Tumors by Targeted Chemotherapeutic Delivery and Amplified Focused Ultrasound‐Hyperthermia Using Magnetic Nanographene Oxide , 2013, Advanced materials.

[5]  Maurizio Prato,et al.  Multipurpose organically modified carbon nanotubes: from functionalization to nanotube composites. , 2008, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[6]  Xiaogang Qu,et al.  Using Graphene Oxide High Near‐Infrared Absorbance for Photothermal Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease , 2012, Advanced materials.

[7]  D. Teplow,et al.  Amyloid beta-protein assembly as a therapeutic target of Alzheimer's disease. , 2008, Current pharmaceutical design.

[8]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films , 2004, Science.

[9]  A. Geim,et al.  Two-dimensional gas of massless Dirac fermions in graphene , 2005, Nature.

[10]  F. Toma,et al.  Enhanced anticancer activity of multi-walled carbon nanotube-methotrexate conjugates using cleavable linkers. , 2010, Chemical communications.

[11]  Robert H. Hurt,et al.  All in the graphene family - A recommended nomenclature for two-dimensional carbon materials , 2013 .

[12]  D. Basko,et al.  Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for studying the properties of graphene. , 2013, Nature nanotechnology.

[13]  SUPARNA DUTTASINHA,et al.  Graphene: Status and Prospects , 2009, Science.

[14]  J. Chen,et al.  Electrical swing adsorption of CO2 using carbon composite materials , 2007 .

[15]  Erwin Peng,et al.  Synthesis of manganese ferrite/graphene oxide nanocomposites for biomedical applications. , 2012, Small.

[16]  M. Pumera,et al.  Friedel-Crafts acylation on graphene. , 2012, Chemistry, an Asian journal.

[17]  Ji-Xin Cheng,et al.  Hyperthermic effects of gold nanorods on tumor cells. , 2007, Nanomedicine.

[18]  T. Pham,et al.  Covalent functionalization of graphene oxide with polyglycerol and their use as templates for anchoring magnetic nanoparticles , 2010 .

[19]  A. Barron,et al.  Nitrene addition to exfoliated graphene: a one-step route to highly functionalized graphene. , 2010, Chemical communications.

[20]  M. Prato,et al.  Functionalization of graphene via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. , 2010, ACS nano.

[21]  Zhijun Zhang,et al.  Functional graphene oxide as a nanocarrier for controlled loading and targeted delivery of mixed anticancer drugs. , 2010, Small.

[22]  S. Campuzano,et al.  Development of amperometric biosensors using thiolated tetrathiafulvalene-derivatised self-assembled monolayer modified electrodes , 2008 .

[23]  P. Couvreur.  Nanoparticles in drug delivery: past, present and future. , 2013, Advanced drug delivery reviews.

[24]  S. Economopoulos,et al.  Exfoliation and chemical modification using microwave irradiation affording highly functionalized graphene. , 2010, ACS nano.

[25]  J. Hao,et al.  Covalent modification of reduced graphene oxide by means of diazonium chemistry and use as a drug-delivery system. , 2012, Chemistry.

[26]  Ross W. Boyle,et al.  Unique Diagnostic and Therapeutic Roles of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines in Photodynamic Therapy, Imaging and Theranostics , 2012, Theranostics.

[27]  Andre K. Geim,et al.  The rise of graphene. , 2007, Nature materials.

[28]  Toshio Matsumoto,et al.  Near‐Infrared Fluorescent Silica/Porphyrin Hybrid Nanorings for In Vivo Cancer Imaging , 2012 .

[29]  J. Pinson,et al.  Attachment of organic layers to conductive or semiconductive surfaces by reduction of diazonium salts. , 2005, Chemical Society reviews.

[30]  T. Yen,et al.  EGRF conjugated PEGylated nanographene oxide for targeted chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. , 2013, Biomaterials.

[31]  K. Jain.  Synthetic Biology and Personalized Medicine , 2012, Medical Principles and Practice.

[32]  Y. Chern,et al.  Preparation of highly conjugated water-dispersible graphene-butyric acid for the enhancement of electron transfer within polyamic acid-benzoxazole: potential applications in electrochemical sensing. , 2013, Biosensors & bioelectronics.

[33]  Anthony C. Coleman,et al.  One-pot functionalization of graphene with porphyrin through cycloaddition reactions. , 2011, Chemistry.

[34]  J. Coleman,et al.  High-yield production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite. , 2008, Nature nanotechnology.

[35]  Yuliang Zhao,et al.  Graphene covalently binding aryl groups: conductivity increases rather than decreases. , 2011, ACS nano.

[36]  Zhuang Liu,et al.  Nano-graphene oxide for cellular imaging and drug delivery , 2008, Nano research.

[37]  Ganesh Gollavelli,et al.  Multi-functional graphene as an in vitro and in vivo imaging probe. , 2012, Biomaterials.

[38]  M. Pumera,et al.  Introducing dichlorocarbene in graphene. , 2012, Chemical communications.

[39]  Chunhui Xu,et al.  Synthesis and photoelectrical properties of β-Cyclodextrin functionalized graphene materials with high bio-recognition capability , 2010 .

[40]  A. Bianco,et al.  Graphene-based nanomaterials for nanobiotechnology and biomedical applications. , 2013, Nanomedicine.

[41]  Jing Kong,et al.  Understanding and controlling the substrate effect on graphene electron-transfer chemistry via reactivity imprint lithography. , 2012, Nature chemistry.

[42]  S. Bose,et al.  Chemical functionalization of graphene and its applications , 2012 .