therapy, respectively. Multiplexed imaging or theranostics will enable targeted
delivery, imaging in vivo with PET/SPECT and/or MRI and ex vivo confirmation
of the tissues in preclinical studies.
4.1 Introduction
Although scientific breakthroughs have brought advances in radionanomedicine
to enable nanoparticle-assisted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
radionanoparticle-using positron emission tomography (PET), challenges including
the real-time imaging with respectable temporal/ spatial resolutions and the discovery of less toxic probes with adequate stability still remain to be solved. To that
end, researchers continuously endeavor to discover novel candidates that can further improve the techniques. Since its first historical discovery in 2004, graphene
has continually gained attention of scientists across diverse disciplines due to many
of its extraordinary properties. While the major research foci have been exploration
of graphenes’ electrical, mechanical, physical and chemical characteristics, recent
investigations are done on its optical properties along with the non-toxic and
environment-friendly nature. Especially, these unique characteristics have drawn
researchers’ interests in the field of biomedicine. In addition to the therapeutic
utility of graphene as carrier of drug delivery or near-infrared (NIR) laser-mediated
cancer ablation, a few recent studies have also suggested the potential role of
graphene-based nanomaterials as exogenous probes for molecular imaging taking
advantage of its unique feature. In this chapter, we will discuss the preparation,
toxicity and a few recent applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in
radionanomedicine.
4.2 Preparation of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials
for Biomedical Applications
Due to many of its unprecedented properties, the first historical discovery of graphene by Andrei Geim and Konstantin Novoselov immediately drew significant
attention of scientists [1]. As it is an atomically thin material with unusual electrical
and physical characteristics, the initial focus of graphene research was on the
replacement of indium tin oxide for transparent electrodes, which can provide
flexibility to them as well.
In the meantime, researchers in the field of biomedicine have taken notice of
other important aspects of graphene: its environment-friendly and non-toxic nature,
as well as the outstanding optical properties [2, 3]. Above all, it should be noted that
dispersed graphene-based nanomaterials including graphene oxides (GOs),
graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) are more
80
J. M. Yoo et al.
delivery, imaging in vivo with PET/SPECT and/or MRI and ex vivo confirmation
of the tissues in preclinical studies.
4.1 Introduction
Although scientific breakthroughs have brought advances in radionanomedicine
to enable nanoparticle-assisted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and
radionanoparticle-using positron emission tomography (PET), challenges including
the real-time imaging with respectable temporal/ spatial resolutions and the discovery of less toxic probes with adequate stability still remain to be solved. To that
end, researchers continuously endeavor to discover novel candidates that can further improve the techniques. Since its first historical discovery in 2004, graphene
has continually gained attention of scientists across diverse disciplines due to many
of its extraordinary properties. While the major research foci have been exploration
of graphenes’ electrical, mechanical, physical and chemical characteristics, recent
investigations are done on its optical properties along with the non-toxic and
environment-friendly nature. Especially, these unique characteristics have drawn
researchers’ interests in the field of biomedicine. In addition to the therapeutic
utility of graphene as carrier of drug delivery or near-infrared (NIR) laser-mediated
cancer ablation, a few recent studies have also suggested the potential role of
graphene-based nanomaterials as exogenous probes for molecular imaging taking
advantage of its unique feature. In this chapter, we will discuss the preparation,
toxicity and a few recent applications of graphene-based nanomaterials in
radionanomedicine.
4.2 Preparation of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials
for Biomedical Applications
Due to many of its unprecedented properties, the first historical discovery of graphene by Andrei Geim and Konstantin Novoselov immediately drew significant
attention of scientists [1]. As it is an atomically thin material with unusual electrical
and physical characteristics, the initial focus of graphene research was on the
replacement of indium tin oxide for transparent electrodes, which can provide
flexibility to them as well.
In the meantime, researchers in the field of biomedicine have taken notice of
other important aspects of graphene: its environment-friendly and non-toxic nature,
as well as the outstanding optical properties [2, 3]. Above all, it should be noted that
dispersed graphene-based nanomaterials including graphene oxides (GOs),
graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) are more
80
J. M. Yoo et al.