Graphene is a single layer of graphite that was first isolated in 2004. It has many superlative properties including strength, conductivity, and flexibility. These properties make it promising for applications in biosensing. Graphene-based biosensors can be electrochemical, optical, or detect DNA. They offer benefits like high sensitivity, selectivity, and a uniform electrode surface. Many research groups and companies around the world are developing graphene biosensors for applications in healthcare, electronics, and other fields. Graphene patent activity is also increasing as companies seek to commercialize the technology.

1. Graphene-based
Biosensors
Mohamed Labadi
April, 2015

2. Overview
Nature Nanotechnology, January 2011
What is Graphene?
G-properties/Superlatives/Applications
Producing Graphene/Synthesis
Graphene based Biosensors
Graphene’s patent trend and battle for
market space
Conclusion

3. Tall graphite mine,
near Seathwaite, UK.
Oldest surviving pencil circa 17th Cent.
▪ It is a single layer of Graphite (pure crystaline carbon)
▪ Graphite was discovered in 1564 at Seathwaite
(Borrowdale), Northumberland
What is graphene?

4. ▪ It is a single layer of Graphite (pure crystaline carbon)
▪ Graphite was discovered in 1564 at Seathwaite (Borrowdale), Northumberland
▪ ‘Graphene’ was first isolated in the lab by Professor Andre Geim with former student
Konstantin Novoselov at the University of Manchester, England in 2004
2010 Nobel Prize
for “groundbreaking experiments
regarding the two-dimensional
material graphene”
(Both were later Knighted, twice)
What is graphene?
Pr.AndreK.Geim
Pr.KostyaNovoselov

5. Graphene Superlatives
 thinnest imaginable and strongest material ever measured
 stiffest known material (stiffer than diamond)
 most stretchable crystal (up to 20% elastically)
 record thermal conductivity (outperforming diamond)
 highest current density at room T (million times of those in copper)
 highest intrinsic mobility (100 times more than in Si)
 conducts electricity in the limit of no electrons
 Good for flexible, wearable devices
 It is transparent: One atom-thick layer sheet absorbs ~2.3% visible
light (πα).
 most impermeable (even He atoms cannot squeeze through)
 ……?

6. Graphene properties
 Morphological
 Surface area – 1gr = 2630 m2
 Aspect ratio varies – typically 2 for solvent exfoliation
 Optical
 Transparent to light (97.7 %) and electrons
 Mechanical
 Stiffness = 1 Tpa
 Strength = 130 GPa
 Chemical
 Easily functionalised
 Processable

7. Tremendous applications…
Healthcare
Aerospace & defence
Electronics, optoelectronics
and semi-conductors
Energy Storage
Automotive
Plastics, composites
sensors
coating, packaging and
paints
telecommunications
15%
27%
19%
17%
12%
3%2%
2%
3%
Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 4598–4810

8. How to make graphene
Production by removing
elements from a large
starting material.
Assembly of a
nanostructure from
smaller elements.
Producing Graphene
Nanoscale, 2015, 7, 4598–4810

9. Mechanical Electrical
conductivity
Optical Permeability Thermal Surface area Biocompatibility
CVD
graphene
Platelets
GO
Structural
composites
• Rollable epaper
• Foldable OLED display
• Touch screen
Conductive ink
• Packaging
• Toys
• Smart items
Conductive layer
• Solar cells/PV
• Smart windows
Electromagnetic
shield coating or
composites
Barrier coating
• Anti corrosion in
structure
• Food packaging
Ultra fast
laser
• Wound dressing
management
• Biomaterials for
regenerative medicine
• ‘smart’ biomaterials
• Drug delivery
• Medical devices
• Scaffold for tissue
engineeringElectrodes for
batteries and
super-
capacitors
Chemical
sensors
Electromagnetic
shield layer
Barrier coating for
cupper connects in
electronics
‘smart’
hydrogels
composites
for contact
lenses
Conductive filler for hydrogel
composites
• Drug delivery systems
• Regenerative medicine
• Tissue engineering
Heat sink for
semi-
conductors
Healthcare
Aerospace, defence
Packaging
Electronics
Sensors
Composites
Energy storage
Membranes
• Solvent/gas purification
• Separation/dessalination
Conductive filler for composites
Additive for
heat
dissipation in
polymers
Biosensors

10. Graphene-based Biosensors
 Graphene-based Electrochemical Biosensors
 Excellent electrochemical behaviors of graphene
 Promising electrode materials in electroanalysis
 High electrocatalyst activity toward H2O2
 The graphene film accelerates the electrodic reaction
 A high background current is observed due to the large surface
area of graphene.
 Electrodes have more uniform distribution of electrochemically
active sites.
 Graphene: 2D structure: very efficient in detecting adsorbed
molecules
 Graphene-based Optical Biosensors
 Low cross-sensitivity
 Long life & lower contamination sensitivity
 Detecting biomolecules optically using graphene by attaching a
fluorophore (exhibit different photophysical properties because
of its interaction with carbon)
(a) Response of sensor film to various concentrations of BSA. (b):
Equilibrium analysis of binding of anti-BSA protein to a high-affinity BSA
protein.
Biosensor chip using an immunoassay method for detecting a protein using a
gold binding. (a) Conventional SPR chip and (b) GOS film-based SPR chip
Chiu et al., Graphene oxide-based SPR biosensor chip for
immunoassay applications, Nanoscale Research Letters 2014, 9:445.

11. Graphene-based Biosensors
 Graphene-based DNA Biosensors
 High sensitivity, high selectivity & low cost for the detection of
selected DNA sequence or mutated genes associated with
human disease
 Providing a simple, accurate and inexpensive platform of patien
diagnosis
20- S. Liu et al., Self-assembled graphene platelet–glucose oxidase
nanostructures for glucose biosensing, Biosensors and Bioelectronics 26 (2011)
4491–4496.

12. Graphene-based Biosensors Research groups and
companies
Research Group/Lab Research Interests Country
National Graphene Institute,
University of Manchester
Nanomaterials, Graphene plasmonics, Graphene
bio-sensing, Graphene bio-catalysis and Grapehene
bio-energy
U.K
Graphene Research Laboratory
(The Hong group), Seoul National
University
Nanomaterials Synthesis, nanoanalysis, Graphene-
based sensors
South
Korea
The Walter Schottky Institut (WSI) -
Garrido Group, TUM
Graphene Biosensors, Carbon nanotubes Germany
James M Tour Group, Rice
University
Graphene for Various Applications USA
Nanobioelectronics and Biosensors
Group, The Catalan Institute of
Nanotechnology (ICN)
Graphene, Graphene-based biosensing,
nanoparticle-based lab-on-a-chip system,
Nanomaterials
Spain
Yuanbo Zhang Group, Fudan
University
Graphene, Quantum Transport in Graphene China
Ajayan Research Group, Rice
University
Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, 2D and 3D materials USA
Graphene Centre at Chalmers,
Chalmers University of Technology
Graphene Spintronics, Graphene-based TeraHertz
Electronics
Sweden
Cambridge Graphene Centre,
University of Cambridge
Science and technology of graphene, Hybrid
nanomaterials
U.K
Losic Group, University of
Adelaide
Graphene based composites, Graphene for
biomedical applications: drug delivery and imaging
Australia
The Max Planck Institute for
Polymer Research
Graphene Composites, Graphene electrodes,
Graphene transistors
Germany
Craighead Group, Cornell
University
Graphene based biosensors, nanotechnology USA
Bolotin research group, Vanderbilt
University
Graphene, Nanoscale electronics USA
Nam Group, University of Inninois Graphene Nanoelectronic Biomaterials USA
Compnay Location Main activities
Graphene Frontiers
(spun off from the
University of
Pennsylvania)
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania,
USA
Graphene field effect transistor
(GFET) based chemical and
biosensors
AMO GmBH Aachen,
Germany
Biochips based on fluorescence
techniques, graphene-based
photodetectors.
Calevia Montreal, QC,
Canada
graphene-based cancer thermal
treatment platform
Graphene Sensors Inc. Vancouver,
British
Columbia,
Canada
Chai Wan,
Hong Kong,
China
Ultrasensitive biosensor made
from the wonder material
grapheme uses to detect
molecules that indicate an
increased risk of developing
cancer
2-DTech Manchester,
UK
Prototyping of graphene based
devices and characterisation
service

13. Graphene’s patent trend and battle for market space
22- Graphene: The worldwide patent landscape in 2015, UK Intellectual
Property Office, 2015.

14. Concept Development – focus is on a) increasing the technology development TRL –
manufacturing scale up, characterisation and measurement, b) experiment with the art of the
possible future applications and concepts and c) provide inputs to Concept Development.
Value creation
through the
delivery of Product
or via the
Integration of
Complex Systems
Technology/Capability
Demonstration
Programmes – focused
on increasing the SRL
to de-risk and
showcase next
generation products
and applications
Route to
Commercialisation
Technology Readiness Level
SystemReadinessLevel
Universitiy
University
Incubation
Industry
1 9
9
EndUser-
Programme&
Product
Delivery
Application-Supply
Chain
Academia
Concept Development
Material Supply Chain
Technology/Capability
Demonstration
Programmes

15. Korean Graphene Research
Hub

16. Industrial Leaders

17. Conclusion
 The possibility to detect and characterize a single cell or
very lowly expressed biomolecules makes Graphen-
based biosensors among the most promising tools for
efficient translational, integrative, regenerative and
personalized medicine
 Future targets are the development of graphene-based
biosensor devices on a flexible substrates
 Investing in graphene: discover the next big thing
 Graphene Valley?
Concept for an artificial retina

18. Questions
The future in a pencil trace!
Thank you for your attention