Polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated graphene oxide nanosheets for controlled release curcumin delivery

Abstract

Nowadays, the use of nanostructures in various medical and biological fields such as drug delivery in cancer treatment is increasing. Among the nanostructures, graphene oxide (GO) is an excellent candidate for drug delivery application because of its unique properties. For more stability, GO can bind with various polymers by its carboxyl, hydroxyl and epoxy functional groups. In this study, firstly GO synthesized by the improved Hummers chemical method and then polyethylene glycol polymer was conjugated to it by using EDC/NHS catalyst. Finally, curcumin (Cur) as anti-cancer drug has been loaded onto the PEGylated graphene oxide (GO-PEG). Next, curcumin loaded onto PEGylated graphene oxide (GO-PEG-Cur) were evaluated by using ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, atomic microscopic force and dynamic light scattering. The amount of loaded drug was calculated about 4.5% with the help of the standard curcumin curve and UV/Vis spectrometer. Also, the result of release shows that maximum drug release rate for this nanocarrier in pH 5.5 and 7.4 was measured 50% and 60%, respectively, after 96 hours. The results showed that the zeta-potential analysis of GO-PEG-Cur was about -13.9 mV that expresses a negative surface charge for produced nanocarrier.

Graphenic Materials for Biomedical Applications

“…The polar groups are usually further modified by functionalization with the biocompatible and hydrophilic polymers, such as polyethylene glycole (PEG) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), then different drugs are loaded on the GR plane. Among GBMs, GO is an excellent material for DDSs, precisely because the presence of functional groups makes it easy to modify its surface [12,26].…”

“…PEGylated GO, loaded with curcumin, as an anticancer drug, proved to be an excellent controlled-release DDS for the delivery of curcumin [26]. The conjugation of PEG-PLGA, GO, and folic acid (FA) with DOX, via a disulfide bond, provids a NC with enhanced stability under physiological conditions and DOX liberation in the reductive environment of cancer cells.…”

Fabrication and characterization of graphene oxide modified polycarboxylic by in situ polymerization

“…It can be found that three distinct characteristic absorption peaks on GO curve appeared at 3400, 1624, and 1114 cm −1 , respectively, which corresponded to the groups of OH, C O, and C O. 25,26 In the FTIR curve of GO-IPEG, the CH 2 absorption peak at 2880 cm −1 , the CH in-plane bending vibration peak at 1458 cm −1 , as well as the absorption peaks at 1724, 1240, and 1100 cm −1 , are due to the stretching vibrational peaks of ester 27,28 The results indicated that the esterification reaction has been occurred successfully between IPEG and GO. As for the GO-PCE spectrum curve, the peaks at 2880, 1740, and 1110 cm −1 correspond to CH 2 stretching vibrational peaks, C O group on AA structure and C O C group on IPEG structure, respectively.…”

“…The molecular structure of GO, GO‐IPEG, and GO‐PCE was characterized by FTIR spectrum, as shown in Figure . It can be found that three distinct characteristic absorption peaks on GO curve appeared at 3400, 1624, and 1114 cm −1 , respectively, which corresponded to the groups of OH, CO, and CO . In the FTIR curve of GO‐IPEG, the CH 2 absorption peak at 2880 cm −1 , the CH in‐plane bending vibration peak at 1458 cm −1 , as well as the absorption peaks at 1724, 1240, and 1100 cm −1 , are due to the stretching vibrational peaks of ester groups (CO and COC) in the molecular structure of GO‐IPEG .…”

Preparation and anti-cancer activity of transferrin/folic acid double-targeted graphene oxide drug delivery system

“…GO-PF68 (GP) was developed via the covalent linkage of the carboxyl functional groups on the surface of GO and the hydroxyl groups of PF68 through the EDC/NHS crosslinking reaction. [34][35][36][37] First, 420 mg of PF68, 20 mg of EDC Á HCl, and 20 mg of NHS were dissolved completely in 10 mL of 0.1 mol/L of phosphate buffer (PB, pH 5.0), and the solution was activated for 30 min with ultrasound. Next, the solution was dripped into 40 mL of GO aqueous dispersion (1 mg/mL), followed by 24 h of magnetic stirring.…”