Graphene and its derivatives, due to a wide range of unique properties that they possess, can be used as starting material for the synthesis of useful nanocomplexes for innovative therapeutic strategies and biodiagnostics. Here, we summarize the latest progress in graphene and its derivatives and their potential applications for drug delivery, gene delivery, biosensor and tissue engineering. A simple comparison with carbon nanotubes uses in biomedicine is also presented. We also discuss their in vitro and in vivo toxicity and biocompatibility in three different life kingdoms (bacterial, mammalian and plant cells). All aspects of how graphene is internalized after in vivo administration or in vitro cell exposure were brought about, and explain how blood–brain barrier can be overlapped by graphene nanomaterials.

Peer reviewed article authored by (Tonelli FM, Santos AK, Gomes KN, Lorençon E, Guatimosim S, Ladeira LO, Resende RR). Read article or submit your manuscript for publishing.

Biomaterial matrices are being developed that mimic the key characteristics of the extracellular matrix, including presenting adhesion sites and displaying growth factors in the context of a viscoelastic hydrogel. This review focuses on two classes of materials: those that are derived from naturally occurring molecules and those that recapitulate key motifs of biomolecules within biologically active synthetic materials. We also discussed some of the most significant biological features of the ECM, and several engineering methods currently being implemented to design and tune synthetic scaffolds to mimic these features. Understanding the cell-protein-material interaction is fundamental for developing more powerful tools in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine strategies. The design of model substrates including the presence of well-defined properties (chemistry, topography, stiffness) and even the gradient of these properties in three dimensional environments must lead in the near future to learn more about the specific roles of protein adsorption and the very dynamic process related to the cell fate of synthetic substrates: cell adhesion, matrix reorganisation, deposition and degradation at the cell-material interface. These materials will open new doors to biosurgical therapeutics in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.