Abstract

Abstract : Graphene is a 2D single layer of sp2 hybridized carbon atoms with hexagonal packed (honeycomb) configuration [1]. It is the thinnest compound known to man at one atom thick, the lightest material known (with 1 square meter weighing around 0.77 milligrams [2]), the strongest compound discovered, the best conductor of heat at room temperature and also the best conductor of electricity known. Such an abundance of carbon on earth makes graphene potentially an eco-friendly, sustainable solution for an almost limitless number of applications including dentistry. Graphene family and materials have been shown to influence the differentiation of stem cells and to improve properties of biomaterials. Its derivatives can be combined with several biomaterials used in regenerative, restorative dentistry and medicine. As it can be functionalized and combined with several biomolecules, graphene holds enormous potential to be used as drug substrates and scaffolds for cell- based tissue engineering strategies also [3].