The development of materials and strategies that can influence stem cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation towards osteoblasts is of high interest to promote faster healing and reconstructions of large bone defects. Graphene and its derivatives (graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide) have received increasing attention for biomedical applications as they present remarkable properties such as high surface area, high mechanical strength, and ease of functionalization. These biocompatible carbon-based materials can induce and sustain stem cell growth and differentiation into various lineages. Furthermore, graphene has the ability to promote and enhance osteogenic differentiation making it an interesting material for bone regeneration research. This paper will review the important advances in the ability of graphene and its related forms to induce stem cells differentiation into osteogenic lineages.

The synthesis of biogenic nanoparticles from non-chemical resources has increased the drive toward understanding infection biology. Accordingly, we aimed to address the symbiotic antibiofilm effect of biogenic copper and zinc oxide nanoparticles with antimicrobials against multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) at the range from 2 to 128 µg/ml was calculated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria using a broth dilution method. Both nanoparticles have prime antibacterial activity compared with standard antibiotics (excluding against P.aeruginosa MTCC 741). A qualitative assessment of biofilm formation and collegial effect was performed using a modified test tube and the microtiter plate-based method by measuring the optical density and time kill of nanoparticles. The results demonstrated efficient antibiofilm activity of CuNPs in its lowest concentration than ZnONPs and antibiotics itself. In addition, significant enhancing antibiofilm effect was also shown by CuNPs in the presence of third generation antibiotics against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was used to investigate the effect of the nanoparticles on morphological changes of Staphylococcus aureus. Current data highlights, biogenic CuNPs and ZnONPs could be used as an adjuvant for antibiotics in the treatment of bacterial infections.