PEGylated graphene oxide (GO-PEG) as new carrier for chemotherapeutic agent delivery

Abstract

Graphene, a single layer of sp2 -hybridized carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb two-dimensional (2-D) crystal lattice, has evoked enormous interest throughout the scientific community since its first appearance in 2004. Due to its unique structure and geometry, graphene possesses remarkable physical–chemical properties (including large specific surface area and biocompatibility) that enable it to be an ideal material for several of applications, ranging from quantum physics, nanoelectronics, energy research, catalysis and engineering of nanocomposites and biomaterials. In the area of nanomedicine, graphene and its derivatives can be exploited for a broad range of applications, including a new generation of biosensors, nanocarriers for drug delivery and probes for cell and biological imaging [1]. In particular, graphene oxide (GO), synthesized by intensive oxidation of crystalline graphite and then turned into a monolayer material by sonication, consists of aromatic planes and polar functional groups which consequently provide it an excellent capability to adsorb aromatic compounds via π–π stacking and hydrogen bonding. Therefore, it is not surprising that this material can serve as an excellent delivery platform for aromatic compounds, like many anti-cancer drugs [2,3]. Herein, we developed a GO-PEG nanocarrier for enhanced delivery and controlled release of sorafenib (an antitumoral drug useful in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma) into specific cancer cells. The empty and drug-loaded GO-PEG were characterized in terms of size, zeta potential, polidispersity, morphology and drug loading capacity. The release kinetic studies, carried out in an appropriate medium mimicking the physiological environment, confirmed that this system permits a controlled release of sorafenib. [1] Liu J et al., 2013, Graphene and graphene oxide as new nanocarriers for drug delivery applications, Acta Biomaterialia 9: 9243-9257. [2] Rahmanian N et al., 2014, Nano graphene oxide: A novel carrier for oral delivery of flavonoids, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 123: 331-338. [3] Zhou T et al., 2014, Controlled release of doxorubicin from graphene oxide based charge-reversal nanocarrier, Biomaterials, 35: 4185-4194. Erika Amore is a Ph.D student in pharmaceutical technology. She works in collaboration with ISMN of CNR and her activity is focused on preparation and characterization of novel lipid drug delivery systems.