Graphene-based nanomaterials have shown wide applications in antimicrobial fields due to their accelerated rate of pathogen resistance and good antimicrobial properties. To apply graphene materials in the antimicrobial test, the graphene materials are usually fabricated as two-dimensional (2D) membranes. In addition, to improve the antimicrobial efficiency, graphene membranes are modified with various functional nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, biomolecules, polymers, etc. In this review, we present recent advances in the fabrication, functional tailoring, and antimicrobial applications of graphene-based membranes. To implement this goal, we first introduce the synthesis of graphene materials and then the fabrication of 2D graphene-based membranes with potential techniques such as chemical vapor deposition, vacuum filtration, spin-coating, casting, and layer-by-layer self-assembly. Then, we present the functional tailoring of graphene membranes by adding metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymers, biopolymers, metal–organic frameworks, etc., with graphene. Finally, we focus on the antimicrobial mechanisms of graphene membranes, and demonstrate typical studies on the use of graphene membranes for antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal applications. It is expected that this work will help readers to understand the antimicrobial mechanism of various graphene-based membranes and, further, to inspire the design and fabrication of functional graphene membranes/films for biomedical applications.

An abnormal level of dopamine (DA), a kind of neurotransmitter, correlates with a series of diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Willis-Ekbom disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Hence, it is imperative to achieve a precise, rapid detection method in clinical medicine. In this study, we synthesized nanocomposite carbon aerogels (CAs) doped with iron and iron carbide, based on algae residue-derived biomass materials, using Fe(NO₃)₃ as the iron source. The modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for DA detection, denoted as CAs-Fe/GCE, was prepared through surface modification with this composite material. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction characterization confirmed the successful doping of iron into the as-prepared CAs. Additionally, the electrochemical behavior of DA on the modified electrode surface was investigated and the results demonstrate that the addition of the CAs-Fe promoted the electron transfer rate, thereby enhancing their sensing performance. The fabricated electrochemical DA biosensor exhibits an accurate detection of DA in the concentration within the range of 0.01~200 µM, with a detection limit of 0.0033 µM. Furthermore, the proposed biosensor is validated in real samples, showing its high applicability for the detection of DA in beverages.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is one of the intermediates or final products of biological metabolism and participates in many important biological processes of life activities. The detection of H₂O₂ is of great significance in clinical disease monitoring, environmental protection, and bioanalysis. In this study, Ti₃C₂-based nanohybrids are prepared by the biological modification and self-assembled peptide nanosheets (PNSs)-based biomimetic synthesis of copper sulfide nanoparticles (CuS NPs), which show potential application in the fabrication of low-cost and high-performance electrochemical H₂O₂ biosensors. The synthesized CuS-PNSs/Ti₃C₂ nanohybrids exhibit excellent electrochemical performance towards H₂O₂, in which CuS NPs can catalyze the decomposition of H₂O₂ and realize the transformation from a chemical signal to an electrical signal to achieve the purpose of H₂O₂ detection. The prepared CuS-PNSs/Ti₃C₂-based electrochemical biosensor platform exhibits a wide detection range (5 μM–15 mM) and a low detection limit (0.226 μM). In addition, it reveals good selectivity and stability and can realize the monitoring of H₂O₂ in a complex environment. The successful biomimetic synthesis of CuS-PNSs/Ti₃C₂ hybrid nanomaterials provides a green and friendly strategy for the design and synthesis of functional nanomaterials and also provides a new inspiration for the construction of highly effective electrochemical biosensors for practical detection of H₂O₂ in various environments.