Chapter 3 - The new nanocarriers based on graphene and graphene oxide for drug delivery applications

Abstract

In order to improve the specific delivery of drugs with a low therapeutic index, several drug carriers have been developed. Nanoparticles are colloidal-sized particles with diameters ranging between 1 and 100 nm, in which drugs may be encapsulated, adsorbed, or dispersed. To date, an array of nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have been investigated, including liposomes, micelles, nanoporous materials, nanofibers, and others. The attractiveness of these systems is due in part to the several advantages they provide for delivering their drug payload. However, the utility of these systems can be limited by their cytotoxicity, drug-loading capacity, transportation, and releasing ability to the desired location. In recent decades, graphene and graphene oxide nanosheets have been introduced as new carbon-based carriers for drug delivery applications. The unique properties of graphene nanosheets, such as two-dimensional planar structure with sp2 hybridation, large surface area, chemical and mechanical stability, superconductivity, and good biocompatibility, provide an opportunity to design drug carriers with a dual-targeting function. It is believed that describing different methods for the surface modification of graphene and also their biocompatibility, toxicity, and drug releasing based on controlling mechanisms, including targeting and stimulated with chemical interactions, pH, and thermal and photo induction, can be very worthwhile in the progress of designing advanced drug delivery systems.