# Graphene-Based Functional Hybrid Membranes for Antimicrobial Applications: A Review
###### Abstract  
Graphene-based nanomaterials have shown wide applications in antimicrobial fields due to their accelerated rate of pathogen resistance and good antimicrobial properties. To apply graphene materials in the antimicrobial test, the graphene materials are usually fabricated as two-dimensional (2D) membranes. In addition, to improve the antimicrobial efficiency, graphene membranes are modified with various functional nanomaterials, such as nanoparticles, biomolecules, polymers, etc. In this review, we present recent advances in the fabrication, functional tailoring, and antimicrobial applications of graphene-based membranes. To implement this goal, we first introduce the synthesis of graphene materials and then the fabrication of 2D graphene-based membranes with potential techniques such as chemical vapor deposition, vacuum filtration, spin-coating, casting, and layer-by-layer self-assembly. Then, we present the functional tailoring of graphene membranes by adding metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymers, biopolymers, metal-organic frameworks, etc., with graphene. Finally, we focus on the antimicrobial mechanisms of graphene membranes, and demonstrate typical studies on the use of graphene membranes for antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal applications. It is expected that this work will help readers to understand the antimicrobial mechanism of various graphene-based membranes and, further, to inspire the design and fabrication of functional graphene membranes/films for biomedical applications. graphene; hybrid materials; membranes; fabrication techniques; antibacterial; antiviral; antifungal +
Footnote †: journal: Applied Sciences  
caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) or charge transfer [17]. The functionalization of GO surface creates the possibility of obtaining highly effective antimicrobial agents [18]. The surface oxygen function of GO ensures that they are amphipathic, so the GO nanosheets can easily dissolve or disperse in water or other polar solvents [19]. Therefore, GO can successfully be used for further functionalization to form nanocomposites, or can uniformly deposited on different substrates as thin films from aqueous solutions. In addition, GO has been used as a carrier to disperse and stabilize a variety of nanomaterials, such as metals, metal oxides, polymers, carbon nanotube, biomaterials, and so on [20; 21]. Due to their synergistic effect, graphene nanohybrids have high antimicrobial efficiency [22]. Due to its excellent antimicrobial properties and good biocompatibility, graphene nanocomposites have a wide range of potential applications in antimicrobial packaging, wound dressing and water disinfection [23]. In addition, it is an excellent drug-delivery vehicle to deliver various antibiotics and antibacterial enzymes [24; 25]. The antimicrobial effect of graphene-based nanomaterials is of great significance for effective antimicrobial therapy, because its mechanism is independent of antibiotics [26]. To maintain the bulk properties of graphene materials and reduce the cost, graphene membranes are used, which have high efficiency, little or no side effects and a long service life [27]. Graphene-based membranes prepared from graphene nanomaterials can even be directly applied to antimicrobials [28; 29]. Many reviews have been released of graphene-based materials' potential for antimicrobial applications [18; 23; 30]. However, to date, there is no comprehensive review on the antimicrobial application of graphene-based membrane. In this review, we summarize the research status of the antibacterial interaction of graphene-based membrane materials (Figure 1). Then, the preparation methods of graphene membranes are summarized, including the casting method, coating method, layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly method and vacuum/pressure-assisted method. A variety of graphene-based composites developed for antimicrobial applications are summarized, with an emphasis on the mechanism and application of graphene-based composites in antimicrobial applications.