When biomolecules meet graphene: from molecular level interactions to material design and applications

Abstract

Graphene-based materials have attracted increasing attention due to their atomically-thick two-dimensional structures, high conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, and large specific surface areas. The combination of biomolecules with graphene-based materials offers a promising method to fabricate novel graphene-biomolecule hybrid nanomaterials with unique functions in biology, medicine, nanotechnology, and materials science. In this review, we focus on a summarization of the recent studies in functionalizing graphene-based materials using different biomolecules, such as DNA, peptides, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, and viruses. The different interactions between graphene and biomolecules at the molecular level are demonstrated and discussed in detail. In addition, the potential applications of the created graphene-biomolecule nanohybrids in drug delivery, cancer treatment, tissue engineering, biosensors, bioimaging, energy materials, and other nanotechnological applications are presented. This review will be helpful to know the modification of graphene with biomolecules, understand the interactions between graphene and biomolecules at the molecular level, and design functional graphene-based nanomaterials with unique properties for various applications.

Predictions of Pattern Formation in Amino Acid Adlayers at the In Vacuo Graphene Interface: Influence of Termination State

“…The phenomenon of pattern formation in noncovalently attached biomolecule adlayers adsorbed on solid surfaces is of key interest for enabling facile and stimulus‐responsive surface functionalization strategies. Notably, this may offer a pathway for realizing high performance graphene‐based biological applications, e.g., biosensors, bioimaging, and target drug delivery . Amino acids, the building blocks of peptides and proteins, are a logical starting point for exploring such phenomena.…”

Immobilization of formate dehydrogenase on polyethylenimine‐grafted graphene oxide with kinetics and stability study

“…The unique structure, biocompatibility, and the possibilities of functionalizing the surface endow graphene oxide‐based nanomaterials extensively applied in enzymes immobilization . Laccase was immobilized on reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/polymer or onto fGO (functionalized graphene oxide with terminal amine groups) as stable and powerful nanobiocatalysts and exhibited promising biocatalytic behavior .…”

Novel biomolecule lycopene-reduced graphene oxide-silver nanoparticle enhances apoptotic potential of trichostatin A in human ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3)

“…25 The results of our study are also in line with other previously published reports, suggesting that AgNPs and combination of GO and AgNPs significantly increased the level of NO and MDA in human ovarian cancer cells. 34,49 Similarly, the antioxidant marker GSH was dramatically decreased when SKOV3 cells were exposed to rGO-Ag or TSA or combination of rGO-Ag and TSA. Interestingly, rGO-Ag has potential effect on both MDA and GSH levels ( Figure 10B).…”

“…The SEM and TEM images clearly showed that a large number of AgNPs were deposited onto GO, which may be ascribed to the strong interaction between lycopene and rGO via physical absorption in the form of hydrogen bonding and other molecular interactions. 49 The crystal-shaped AgNPs were deposited on the surface of rGO nanosheets.…”