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The biological applications of graphene materials are strongly conditioned by the need to handle these nanostructures under physiological conditions, essentially complex aqueous media. While the water stabilization of Graphene Oxide (GO) can be easily achieved, this material do not possess the electrical properties of graphene. On the other hand, the mechanical exfoliation of graphite has led to the efficient separation and stabilization of graphene sheets in water when water-soluble dispersant species are used in the exfoliation process. However, many surfactants may cause toxicity problems if they are not thoroughly removed. Our group has developed a facile and inexpensive ball milling process to exfoliate graphite and to prepare graphene dispersions in water. These aqueous suspensions can be freeze-dried, resulting in a soft powder that can be easily re-suspended in aqueous media, including cell culture media, at the desired concentration. We have also made sure that the redispersed solid retains the original properties of graphene. During this talk, we will discuss (i) studies of interaction of so-prepared solutions with cells; (ii) the use of graphene in hybrid hydrogels for drug delivery purposes and for 3D cell culture media. |
