Graphene-based materials in drug delivery and growth factor release: A critical review

Graphene and its derivatives have attracted much attention in recent years due to their unique properties and functionalization ability in tissue engineering. In this work, effect of biomolecule adding in three groups of Graphene family (consisting of Graphene, Graphene Oxide and reduced Graphene Oxide), their composites and modified forms are studied. Although the Graphene family induces differentiation of stem cells, adding appropriate factors (such as growth factors, inducers and gene activator proteins) helps improve the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of cells. The novelty of this work is to verifying the capability of specifically-induced differentiation and bioactive controlled release of biomolecules on Graphene-based substrates, Graphene filled substrates or Graphene coated substrates and explaining the important role of biomolecules in stem cells fate. The study indicates that Graphene family can release biomolecules (including growth factors and proteins) in a controlled manner and these additives significantly enhance or accelerate the adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of stem cells and induce the differentiation of stem cells to specific cells.