Oxide Nanocarrier Research Articles

Fabrication of chlorambucil loaded graphene- oxide nanocarrier and its application for improved antitumor activity

The present study aims at designing a biodegradable and biocompatible nanocarrier using gelatin and reduced graphene oxide nanosheets functionalized with folic acid, for release of chlorambucil drug in controlled manner and achieving high loading efficiency. From scanning electron microscopic studies small pore like structure with rough and thick morphology on the plane of graphene oxide is clearly visible indicating high loading of drug. Further, Drug loading and encapsulation efficiency, in vitro release studies of the drug from the nanocarrier at different concentrations of reduced graphene oxide, different pH were studied. The mean particle size, entrapment efficiency (%) of optimized folic acid functionalized gelatin-graphene oxide formulation was observed to be 300 nm and 56% respectively. From the release studies it is clear that, after 24 h the release rate of the drug was found to be higher at acidic conditions compared to neutral conditions. It was found that 62.1% and 82% of the total bound drug was released from the nanocarrier at pH 5.4 and pH 1.2 respectively. Besides, under neutral conditions (pH 7.4), 43.7% of the total bound drug was released from the nanocarrier in the first 24 h. The % cell viability of free drug, drug loaded nanocomposites against human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line was found to be 11.7% and 28% respectively at the dose of 500 μg mL−1 after 24 h. IC50 values also manifest the significantly lower cytotoxicity of drug loaded nanocarrier (IC50 = 125.9 μg/mL) as compared to free-drug (IC50 = 86 μg/mL). For FAGGO, CLB and CLB-FAGGO the values of mean ± std. deviation were found to be 71.80 ± 6.66; 48.71 ± 23.15; 55.48 ± 19.65 respectively. The unique properties exhibited by biodegradable polymer like gelatin and carbon based materials such as graphene offers an excellent applications in biomedical field.

Novel cationic cellulose-based nanocomposites for targeted delivery of methotrexate to breast cancer cells

In this study, new smart zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnetic (Fe3O4) nanocarrier based on microcrystalline cellulose with functional cationic groups were developed by the combination of the grafting-onto method and reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization method. The synthesized nanocarriers were step by step validated and characterized using 1H NMR, FTIR, VSM, TGA, DLS, and SEM-EDX analysis. The resulting NCs were uniform spherical NCs with a mean diameter of less than 70 nm. Methotrexate (MTX) was selectively attached to nanocarrier by ionic interaction with cationic part of nanoparticles and complexing with inorganic metal oxide part of NCs (high encapsulation efficiency of >98%). This NC–MTX conjugated system was used for targeted therapy of breast cancer cell line (MCF7). The cytotoxicity studies revealed high antitumor efficacy of MTX-ZnO NCs compared to MTX-Fe3O4 NCs and free MTX in MCF7 breast cancer cell lines due to high interaction of ZnO with MTX proved by DAPI staining and MTT assay. The formation of the complexes between the MTX and ZnO nanoparticles, lead to more sustainer drug release and enhanced chemotherapy efficiency by increasing the intracellular concentration of MTX.

Thermosensitive hydrogel drug delivery system containing doxorubicin loaded CS–GO nanocarriers for controlled release drug in situ

Local delivery of antitumour drugs provided a high local concentration, the intention of increased antitumour and decreased systemic therapy. An injectable thermosensitive hydrogel is commonly used as a local drug delivery system (DDS). In this paper, a novel local hydrophilic doxorubicin (DOX) DDS, chitosan functionalised graphene oxide (CS–GO) nanocarriers in polylactide (PLA)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)–PLA thermosensitive hydrogel, was demonstrated. The DOX loaded CS–GO nanocarriers (DOX/CS–GO) were prepared via π–π stacking and hydrophobic interactions, which presented a superior loading capacity for DOX, and then DOX/CS–GO were incorporated into the thermosensitive hydrous matrix. The obtained injectable hydrophilic DOX delivery system was flowing sol at ambient temperature but became non-flowing gel at body temperature and can act as a depot for sustained release of DOX in situ. The in vitro cytotoxicity test showed that the PLA–PEG–PLA hydrogel and CS–GO nanocarriers were non-cytotoxic. The obtained CS–GO/DOX nanocarriers not only showed increased cellular uptake but also enhanced cytotoxicity. The in vitro release of PLA–PEG–PLA/(CS–GO/DOX) complexes was sustained for >200 h. These results suggested that this injectable composite hydrogel is a potential candidate as drug carrier and in clinical applications in situ.