@article {19346, title = {Graphene-polymer nanocomposites for biomedical applications}, journal = {Polymers for Advanced Tecnhologies}, volume = {29}, year = {2018}, month = {2018-01-16 00:00:00}, pages = {687-700}, publisher = {Wiley}, abstract = {

Despite the significant efforts in the synthesis of new polymers, the mechanical properties of
polymer matrices can be considered modest in most cases, which limits their application in
demanding areas. The isolation of graphene and evaluation of its outstanding properties, such
as high thermal conductivity, superior mechanical properties, and high electronic transport, have
attracted academic and industrial interest, and opened good perspectives for the integration of
graphene as a filler in polymer matrices to form advanced multifunctional composites.
Graphene-based nanomaterials have prompted the development of flexible nanocomposites for
emerging applications that require superior mechanical, thermal, electrical, optical, and chemical
performance. These multifunctional nanocomposites may be tailored to synergistically combine
the characteristics of both components if proper structural and interfacial organization is
achieved. The investigations carried out in this aim have combined graphene with different
polymers, leading to a variety of graphene-based nanocomposites. The extensive research on
graphene and its functionalization, as well as polymer graphene composites, aiming at
applications in the biomedical field, are reviewed in this paper. An overview of the polymer
matrices adequate for the biomedical area and the production techniques of graphene
composites is presented. Finally, the applications of such nanocomposites in the biomedical field,
particularly in drug delivery, wound healing, and biosensing, are discussed.

}, keywords = {Graphene, polymer nanocomposites}, issn = {1099-1581}, doi = {10.1002/pat.4164}, author = {Silva, M. and Alves, N. M. and Paiva, M. C.} }