Biomedical Technology
Graphene for healthcare applications
As the demand for healthcare services continues to increase, so does the demand for novel healthcare solutions. These solutions should be more effective, cost less, prevent and cure disease, and should be equally effective throughout the world. Graphene is paving the way for novel diagnosis and treatments, thanks to its unique properties, such as high surface area, electron mobility, and functionalisation potential; all favourable for biomedical technologies.
For instance, the surface area of graphene makes an excellent platform for drug delivery and the conductivity makes for effective biosensors. The ability of graphene to be made into scaffolds whilst maintaining the inherent conductivity can be put to use in tissue engineering. New research has shown that graphene can be incorporated with a polymer to make very sensitive electromechanical sensors, and that it can be used to make improved deep brain implants.
The most advanced and promising areas in the biomedical field are currently those where graphene is used in a device configuration. For example, in Point-of-Care or In Vitro diagnostics, graphene can be used as a sensor and be duly functionalized to tune its sensing capabilities. Graphene-based neural interfaces have also demonstrated the possibility to not only detect wavelengths in the brain that cannot be detected with current metal-based technologies, but also to stimulate the tissue, opening up possibilities for new therapies.
Cinzia Spinato, Business Developer for biomedical applications for the Graphene Flagship
Graphene Biomedical Products
From graphene-based retinal implants to robotic prosthetic hands controlled by wearable sensors made by cellulose and graphene composites. Graphene Flagship researchers are using graphene to expand the realm of possibility within the biomedical sector.
The latest on Biomedical Technology
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Grapheal uses graphene sensors connected to smartphones for biomedical applications
Graphene-enabled sensors for wound monitoring, pathogen detection and more
Graphene composites found safe to use
Graphene Flagship researchers discovered reduced graphene oxide particles released from plastic composites after abrasion induce negligible health effects in safety analyses
Bacterial soundtracks revealed by graphene membrane
Graphene Flagship researchers have developed an innovative graphene sensor to capture the sound of a single bacterium. These graphene-enabled sensors tell apart living organisms, which enables researchers to identify drug-resistant bacteria through the detection of distinctive sounds.
Spotlight: Graphene applications in drug delivery
Graphene Flagship researchers Valentina Castagnola and Clarissa Braccia, based at Graphene Flagship partner IIT, in Italy, share their latest experiences and discoveries in the field of graphene and related materials.
Flexible graphene-based neural probes improve epilepsy detection
Graphene Flagship researchers have developed a flexible neural probe made of graphene-based field-effect transistors. This device records the full spectrum of brain signals, including infraslow signals, demonstrating the ability of graphene-enabled devices to detect some signs of epilepsy with high fidelity.
