The use of nanomaterials in medicine is growing at an unprecedented rate for a variety of therapeutic, diagnostic or combinatory applications. Graphene and other 2D materials possess properties that make them attractive materials for biomedical applications, however, their impact on the physiology of live organisms is still unexplored. To further explore graphene’s potential for diagnostic and therapeutic applications as a substance and a 2D biomedical material, it is important to determine its potential toxicological profile and adverse reaction it might cause in the body following administration or implantation.
In his presentation, Dr. Kostarelos will highlight how biological-grade graphene oxide (GO) sheets interact with tissues in living animals (in vivo). The pharmacological and toxicological profiles exhibited by GO sheets in correlation with physicochemical characteristics such as their thickness, and lateral dimensions, and including their half-life in circulating blood, tissue biodistribution, excretion rates, and kinetics of biodegradation, allow the determination of critical parameters that can assist in the future development of graphene-based applications towards the clinic.