2D materials: advances in regenerative medicine and human health sensing

Abstract The potential of 2D materials goes beyond the use in electronic applications, extending to regenerative medicine and noninvasive sensing. They hold great promise in these fields due to their remarkable properties, such as high surface area, electrical conductivity and modular chemistry. However, they face significant challenges related to biocompatibility, long-term safety, reproducible large-scale production and lack of standardization and clinical protocols, among others. This review presents a comprehensive overview of their application in regenerative medicine and interactions with various biological systems. We comment on the influence of their innate, but tunable properties on biological response. The chemical composition and exfoliation state of these materials also play a critical role in their bioactivity. The high sensitivity of 2D materials to humidity holds a significant promise in sensor development, which is presented here in detail. Combining them with polymer matrices can enhance the flexibility and performance of the sensors, making them suitable for wearable devices and environmental monitoring. However, challenges remain in the search for the best sensing characteristics, which can be addressed through functionalization and combining with alternative materials like metal oxide nanowires. We critically examined the key challenges (biological interactions, exposure risks, environmental changes and scalability), while assessing their potential for sustainable technologies. Despite the advancements, thorough safety assessments are needed before large-scale production and clinical deployment of 2D materials for health sensing applications.