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An ever-increasing demand for biocompatible materials provides motivation for the
development of advanced materials for challenging applications ranging from disease detection to
organ function restoration. Carbon-based materials are considered promising candidates because
they combine good biocompatibility with high chemical resistance. In this work we present an
initial assessment of the biocompatibility of epitaxial graphene on 6H-SiC(0001). We have
analyzed the interaction of HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cells on epitaxial graphene and compared
it with that on bare 6H-SiC(0001). We have found that for both graphene and 6H-SiC there is
evidence of cell-cell and cell substrate interaction which is normally an indication of the
biocompatibility of the material.
The final application of any biomedical device, whether it is a scaffold for tissue growth or
molecule targeting for biosensing, determines the property requirements for the main materials used
in their construction. The size of the device could range from the macroscopic scale (e.g. glucose
sensors, on the order of millimeters) to microscopic scale (e.g. FET devices, on the order of nano-
or micro-meters). Moreover, the materials used in biosensors or implantable biomedical devices
must be compatible with biological matter in order to be ultimately used for in vivo applications.
Carbon allotropes, specifically carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene, have proven to be
promising candidates as they potentially combine good biocompatibility with excellent chemical
resistance [1,2]. Even though the properties of CNTs have been studied and applied in tissue
engineering and biosensing [1], there are still some contradictions regarding their biocompatibility
as CNTs have been reported to be cytotoxic [1,3]. On the other hand, although graphene is
considered to be a relatively new material, it is well known for its exceptional electrical, thermal
and mechanical properties [4], as well as for its high sensitivity to chemical environments [3,5].
While graphene is an appealing candidate for biomedical applications its biocompatibility must first
be assessed and established.
There are different ways to prepare graphene, such as mechanical cleaving, chemical synthesis,
epitaxial growth on SiC and CVD (chemical vapor deposition) on metals. Each production process
yields graphene with different electrical, optical and morphological properties. In fact, factors such
as the interaction with the substrate, the presence of impurities, and the physical edge of the
structure, as well as ultimately the number of layers formed, define the final properties of graphene
[1,4]. The epitaxial growth of graphene on SiC in an Ar environment produces high quality films
with large domains and good thickness control, with the additional advantage of not having to
physically transfer the graphene film to an insulating substrate [6].
To date, a few reports discuss the biocompatibility of chemically prepared graphene derivatives
[2,7]. Recently a study of the biocompatibility of single layer graphene produced by CVD on Cu
Materials Science Forum Vols. 679-680 (2011) pp 831-834
Online available since 2011/Mar/28 at www.scientific.net
© (2011) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.679-680.831
All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP,
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