Graphene-Based Nano Drug Delivery of Curcumin for the Treatment of Dengue Fever.

Abstract

Graphene, which is defined as a single-layered sp2 hybridized carbon atoms placed in a honeycomb-like crystal lattice when converted to graphene oxide, has proven its worth by showing its tremendous capacity in controlling the release rate of drugs by entrapping in the numerous pockets present inside it through π-π stacking interaction when used as a nanocarrier. In this experiment graphene oxide was synthesized through traditional Hummer’s method and was used as a nanocarrier to target nanosized drugs, which was prepared by loading curcumin drug into the PVP functionalized graphene oxide by using necessary procedures. After the successful confirmation of the stability, functionalization, and compatibility through various characterization procedures and effective drug loading into the systems, the release behavior of the formulations has been checked through dialysis bag diffusion technique using potassium phosphate buffer saline (pH 7.2, 4.0 and 9.2) for selection of the best medium for determination of the successful sustained-release behavior of the drugs through the dialysis membrane which concluded with satisfactory, sustained and constant drug release phenomenon in the acidic environment reflecting an idea of the fact its favorable release in acidic pH. It is a fact known that dengue fever causes systemic acidosis i.e., reduction of the pH of blood below 7. Thus, when used in-vivo there is a possibility that the formulation has easy access to its target and, performs the desired mechanism of action and can be used as a therapeutic delivery system against the Dengue virus.