Graphene, heralded as the Super Material of the 21st Century, has quickly moved from the ground-breaking research stage to the marketplace in less than a decade. Numerous applications for the carbon-based material have been developed for use in a wide-range of industries including automotive, electronics, and energy storage. Researchers continue to make significant advancements in developing even more life-changing applications.

The latest advancements, and perhaps those with the most significance, are finding a role in the field of medicine, including in drug delivery, biological sensing and imaging, antibacterial materials, and tissue engineering. In Europe, where the EU is funding a 10-year, 1.35 billion euro coordination action on graphene, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has already advanced and written regulations for the use of nanomaterials including graphene-based products. Likewise, the FDA is drafting regulations supporting the development of nanomaterials.

Calevia Inc., a private biotechnology company formed in partnership with ProScanRxPharma Inc. and Grafoid Inc, is now working to develop an innovative graphene-based photothermal therapeutic platform for various cancers. Calevia’s goal is to develop a treatment that targets tumor cells at the molecular level offering better therapeutic efficacy and improved safety over traditional cancer treatments including surgery, radiation therapy and pharmacology.