Green and easy synthesis of biocompatible graphene for use as an anticoagulant

Abstract

An environmental friendly method for the preparation of functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) in aqueous solution is developed with great easiness, using heparin as both a reducing agent and an effective stabilizer. Structural and morphological studies have demonstrated that part of the oxygen functionalities in the graphene oxide can be removed by this method, and heparin can be functionalized on the resulting rGO sheets through hydrophobic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The functionalized rGO shows good stability in aqueous solution, owing to the strong electrostatic and steric repulsions of the heparin which adsorb on the surfaces of rGO sheets. Moreover, the rGO exhibits excellent biocompatibility and anticoagulant activity, making it a promising candidate for widespread use in the biomedical field.