Antibacterial Properties of Graphene Based Nanomaterials: An Emphasis on Molecular Mechanisms, Surface Engineering and Size of Sheets

Abstract

Graphene-based materials with their astonishing properties including exceptional thermal and electrical conductivity, strong mechanical characteristics, as well as antibacterial characteristics have many promising applications in industry and medicine. Graphene-based materials have been utilized in different fields of medicine such as thermal therapy, drug delivery and cancer therapy. In addition, the prevalence of bacterial multidrug resistance has attracted worldwide attention. Therefore, there is a growing tendency to use nanomaterials, especially graphene family to overcome this problem. To date, no specific mechanism for antibacterial activity of graphene-family has been reported. This review briefly discusses the physiochemical properties of graphene nanomaterials with a focus on the different antibacterial mechanisms, surface engineering and nanosheets size to provide a better insight for further research and development.

Antiviral performance of graphene-based materials with emphasis on COVID-19: A review

“…As an interesting member of carbon nanostructures, graphene, the building block of graphite, can be defined as an atomically two-dimensional layer of hexagonally bonded carbon atoms. Such carbon structure can exhibit outstanding properties such as large specific surface area, high mechanical strength, high electron conductivity as well as strong thermal, optical and catalytic characteristics [149] , [150] , [151] , [152] , [153] , [154] , [155] , [156] , [157] , [158] , [159] , [160] . Graphene-based materials are referred to those materials that contain single or few-layer graphene or graphene oxide [161] , [162] in their structures.…”

Nanotechnology: A Potential Weapon to Fight against COVID‐19

“…Such carbon structure can exhibit fundamental properties such as large specific surface area, high mechanical strength, electron conductivity, optical and catalytic characteristics. [160][161][162][163][164][165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172][173][174] These unique properties of graphene and its derivatives have made these nanostructured materials suitable for various biological and medical applications, including antipathogenic applications. [175][176][177][178][179][180][181] In order to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic, It should be mentioned that the antibacterial and antiviral activity of graphene or graphene-based nanomaterials can be explored based on various effects, including membrane, oxidative, and photothermal stresses as well as charge transfer, and the entrapment effect of graphene materials on various bacterial species.…”

Recent advances and challenges in graphene‐based nanocomposite scaffolds for tissue engineering application

“…127 Moreover, several graphene nanocomposites that have remarkable antibacterial function against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria have been reported. 128 In this regard, it also was reported that GO (20, 40, 80 μg/ml) could decrease the viability of dental bacteria, mainly Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum. 129 Contrary to these reports, some studies showed that graphene has no intrinsic antibacterial effects, and its functionalization with antibacterial materials such as silver nanoparticles has appeared necessary to achieve this goal.…”

“…The size of GO nanosheets directly affects the GO antibacterial activity, and larger GO sheets have a stronger effect against Escherichia coli than smaller ones 127 . Moreover, several graphene nanocomposites that have remarkable antibacterial function against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria have been reported 128 . In this regard, it also was reported that GO (20, 40, 80 μg/ml) could decrease the viability of dental bacteria, mainly Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans, and Fusobacterium nucleatum 129 .…”