Graphene oxide nanoribbons/polypyrrole nanocomposite film: Controlled release of leucovorin by electrical stimulation

Abstract

Conductive polymers (CPs) have been previously investigated as active redox material for developing electrically controlled drug release. These systems usually suffer from their low drug loading capacity which is a great challenge in drug delivery systems. Here, we offered the fabrication of electrically controlled drug release based on the one-step electropolymerization of pyrrole in the presence of Leucovorin (Lu), as an anticancer drug, on the conductive Graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs)-modified glassy carbon electrode. The as-fabricated modified electrodes were characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy and Cyclic Voltammetry. In the response to electrical stimulation, the Lu can be successfully released from the as-prepared PPy-Lu/GONRs/PPy-Cl/GCE. The efficiency of Lu loading in the presence of GONRs is dramatically higher than that the absence of GONRs due to the high surface area and more active sites of GONRs. The kinetic of Lu release in presence of GONRs is slower than the absence of GONRs, indicating that the presence of GONRs can better be controlled the Lu release. The present approach provides an effective strategy to solve the limitation of the CPs which make it an attractive candidate for controlled drug release.