Natural human enzyme can biodegrade graphene, scientists report

Degradation of pristine graphene occurs in the human body when interacting with a naturally occurring enzyme found in the lung, announced Graphene Flagship partners; the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), University of Strasbourg, Karolinska Institute and University of Castilla–La Mancha (UCLM). Graphene-based products, including flexible biomedical electronic devices, are being designed for interface with the human body within the Graphene Flagship. If graphene is to be used for such biomedical applications, it should be biodegradable and thus be expelled from the body.