Graphene: A Disruptive Opportunity for COVID-19 and Future Pandemics?

The graphene revolution, which has taken place during the last 15 years, has represented a paradigm shift for science. The extraordinary properties possessed by this unique material have paved the road to a number of applications in materials science, optoelectronics, energy, and sensing. Graphene-related materials (GRMs) are now produced in large scale and have found niche applications also in the biomedical technologies, defining new standards for drug delivery and biosensing. Such advances position GRMs as novel tools to fight against the current COVID-19 and future pandemics. In this regard, GRMs can play a major role in sensing, as an active component in antiviral surfaces or in virucidal formulations. Herein, the most promising strategies reported in the literature on the use of GRM-based materials against the COVID-19 pandemic and other types of viruses are showcased, with a strong focus on the impact of functionalization, deposition techniques, and integration into devices and surface coatings.

Automated summary

The graphene revolution in the past 15 years has led to a paradigm shift in science, offering new possibilities in materials science, optoelectronics, energy, and sensing. Graphene-related materials have been applied in biomedical technologies, setting new standards for drug delivery and biosensing, and are now being utilized in the fight against current and future pandemics. Strategies for using GRM-based materials against COVID-19 and other viruses are showcased in the literature, emphasizing the impact of functionalization, deposition techniques, and integration into devices and surface coatings.