Adsorptive carbon-based materials for biomedical applications

Adsorption or enrichment has been an indispensable and important measure in biomedical engineering since it is promising in diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases. The ongoing development in this arena starves for exploration of outstanding adsorptive materials. As an excellent candidate for adsorption or enrichment carriers, carbon-based material has demonstrated unique superiority in biomedical arena owing to its integrated characteristics. Herein, we review the lasted advance in adsorptive carbon-based materials for biomedical application with emphasis on carbon nanotubes (CNTs)-based, graphene-based, and biomass/polymer-based ones. We begin with the classification of different carbon-based materials and elaborate the respective preparation approaches that are utilized to realize optimized microstructure and physicochemical property. Afterwards, we introduce the different applications of carbon-based materials in biomedical arena, including blood purification, enrichment of glycopeptide and phosphopeptide, and breath analysis. Finally, we present a concise summary and give an outlook of this arena.