Natural and synthetic polymer for graphene oxide mediated anticancer drug delivery—A comparative study

Abstract

Two dimensional graphene and its derivatives have been a focus of scientific study due to its unique features which makes it suitable for biomedical applications. Herein a comparative study was carried out between chitosan polymerized graphene oxide and polyvinylpyrrolidone polymerized graphene oxide nanoparticles. The polymerized nanocarriers were further decorated with folic acid and anticancer drug camptothecin was loaded. The nanocarriers thus synthesized were characterized by x-ray diffractometer (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV–vis spectroscopy (UV), zeta potential and fluorescence spectroscopy. The biocompatibility of the two nanocarriers was compared via hemolysis and anti-inflammatory studies and the cellular toxicity was assayed by 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide (MTT) and Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay against MCF-7 cell lines. The study indicates that chitosan polymerized graphene oxide nanocarrier was more suitable for biomedical applications in comparison to polyvinylpyrrolidone. The percentage hemolysis caused by chitosan polymerized graphene oxide was almost equivalent to diclofenac salt which served as standard. Also it has, increased drug loading capacity and greater percentage inhibition of MCF-7 cell lines as per MTT and SRB assay.