Electrospun photothermally active graphene-based nanofibers with a Retro-Diels-Alder reaction to initiate drug release

Abstract

Externally controlled local drug release systems have garnered significant interest, with stimuli-responsive electrospun nanofibers emerging as a prominent platform for local drug delivery. Their advantages, such as a high surface area and facile production have made them appealing materials for various biomedical applications. While nanofiber scaffolds have been widely used for drug release through physical entrapment, control over the passive release and precise dosage regulation remains challenging. To overcome these limitations, in this study, maleimide-modified functional molecules were covalently conjugated to reduced graphene oxide-containing nanofiber scaffolds (average diameter 475 ± 94 nm) fabricated using furan-containing copolymers. The Diels-Alder cycloaddition at ambient temperature conjugates the molecules of interest, whereas the thermally promoted retro Diels-Alder cycloreversion reaction releases them. Photothermal heating using near-infrared light at 980 nm facilitated control over the drug release, and switching the irradiation on and off allows on-demand release. One can envision that these photothermally active nanofiber mats could enable on-demand drug delivery of a variety of active therapeutic agents for localized delivery.