Adsorption of Cisplatin on Oxidized Graphene Nanoribbons for Improving the Uptake in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma Cell Line A549.

Abstract

Graphene nanoribbons are nanosized strips of graphene with unique physicochemical properties like higher drug loading capacity and affinity for tumor cells. The principal objective of this research was to develop oxidized graphene nanoribbons (O-GNRs)-based delivery system for cisplatin against non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line A549 by selective endocytosis. The O-GNRs prepared using various synthetic steps like oxidative unzipping were evaluated for various parameters like morphology, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) study, % adsorption efficacy, Differential scanning colometric (DSC) study and in-vitro efficacy studies. Graphene nanoribbons with the length of 200-250 nm and width of 20-40 nm were obtained. The FTIR spectrum of drug-loaded O-GNRs exhibited a characteristic peak at 1550 cm-1 (- N-H group) of cisplatin. The DSC indicated the presence of sharp endothermic peaks at 59°C (PEG), 254°C (-C-NH3) and 308.6°C (-C-Pt). The % adsorption efficiency was found to be 74.56 ± 0.798% with in-vitro release in controlled manner (63.36% ± 0.489%) for 24 h. The nanoformulation showed an average inhibition of 22.72% at a lower dose of cisplatin (> 25%) by passive targeting on cell line A549 by DNA alkylation. In the near future, graphene-based systems will establish potential nanosystems in cancer treatment due to the additive effect of graphene with various therapeutic agents.