Fabrication of graphene–biomacromolecule hybrid materials for tissue engineering application

Abstract

Graphene (G) and its composites have attracted a lot of interest in recent years due to their high biocompatibility, large surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and unique thermal properties. The combination of biomacromolecules (BM) like DNA, proteins, peptides, enzymes and biocompatible polymers with G makes it possible to create novel hybrid materials for various applications, especially in biomedical and tissue engineering. In this review, we demonstrated the recent advances in the preparation methods of G–BM hybrid materials and their applications in the field of tissue engineering, such as implant materials, cell culture scaffolds, and regenerative medicine. Moreover, the perspectives and key challenges of G–BM hybrid materials in biomedical fields are also discussed. It is expected that this review would be helpful for us to understand the fabrication strategies of G–BM hybrid materials and design novel G-based biomaterials with high performance.