Scheme of the preparation of hydrogel (a) and the optical picture of the experiment of rats’ wounding healing process (Image by WANG Jinqing et al.) 

　　Graphene possesses prominent mechanical property and bio-compatibility, which make it can be employed as reinforcing fillers to significantly improve the mechanical performance of biomaterials.

　　Researchers from the State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have prepared several graphene composite biomaterials with promising application in bio-medical field.

　　They have synthesized graphene nanosheet (GNS)/hydroxyapatite (HA) nanorod composites (GNS/HA) and casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) biofuctionalized graphene composite using graphene as reinforcing fillers via a convenient one-pot hydrothermal strategy. It is proved that the introduction of graphene can greatly improve the mechanical performance and bone formation of biomaterials. And it can enhance the absorption and growth of bone cells as well. The synthesized composite materials exhibit excellent bio-compatibility and bio-activity. The findings have been published in Carbon(2014, 66, 407-416) and J. Phys. Chem. C(2013, 117, 10375–10382).

　　In addition, they have prepared Ag/graphene composite hydrogel as artificial wound dressing materials and the preparation process is shown in Figure a. The materials present prominent anti-bacterial and wound-healing properties. When the hydrogel is used to dress the artificial wounds in rats, the healing rate can reach as high as 98% after 15 days of treatment (see Figure b). The work can shed new light on designing of antibacterial material like Ag/graphene composite hydrogel with promising applications in wound dressing.

　　The findings will be published in Adv. Funct. Mater. (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201304202).