Assessment of biological safety of graphene nanostructures in vivo : literature review

Graphene is a flat monoatomic layer of carbon arranged in a two-dimensional crystalline structure. The active study of graphene is growing exponentially, attracting scientists from various fields of science. Graphene-based nanomaterials have unique physical and chemical properties suitable for diverse applications in electronics, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and ecology. There is also an increasing interest in the biomedical application of graphene nanomaterials. However, a significant obstacle to the wider practical use of graphene and materials based on it remains the lack of an unambiguous answer to the question of their potential danger. The paper presents a review of the literature on the study of the biological safety of graphene-based nano-materials in vivo using mice and rats as test objects, as a generally accepted human model. The scientific community has identified the need for a more detailed study of the toxicity of graphene and materials based on it, with the mandatory identification of the relationship between their characteristics and biological efficiency. In studies on the whole organism, the biological effect depends not only on the chemical nature of nanomaterials, but also on the dose, route of administration, the time and mode of exposure, as well as on the animals used for testing. In addition, given the possible toxic effect of graphene-based nanoparticles, it is necessary to investigate and critically assess the potential long-term risks. A detailed comprehensive assessment of the biological safety of graphene nanostructures will contribute to the advancement of knowledge necessary for the development of safe graphene-based technologies and products suitable for medical applications, and to minimize risks to human health.