Graphene nanomaterial could have medical applications

Talking Points Memo : Researchers at ETH Zürich in Switzerland have developed a new paper-like material made by combining graphene and protein. Graphene is mechanically strong, electrically conductive, and water repellent. The protein fibrils are biologically active and water absorbent. The new nanocomposite, made by alternating layers of the two materials, has a number of valuable qualities: It is inexpensive, highly conductive, and biodegradable, and it has shape memoryâmdash;it deforms as it absorbs water and recovers its original shape as it dries out. One proposed use is as a biosensor to measure the activity of enzymes as they digest and break down the protein fibrils. As such, the new material shows promise in the medical arena for improving medical diagnoses and treatments. The researchers’ results were published online in Nature Nanotechnology.