Extended Release of Metronidazole Drug Using Chitosan/Graphene Oxide Bionanocomposite Beads as the Drug Carrier

Abstract

This study depicts the facile approach for the synthesis of chitosan/graphene oxide bionanocomposite (Chi/ GO) beads via the gelation process. This is the first-ever study in which these Chi/GO beads have been utilized as a drug carrier for the oral drug delivery of metronidazole (MTD) drug, and investigations were made regarding the release pattern of the MTD drug using these Chi/GO beads as a drug carrier for a prolonged period of 84 h. The MTD is loaded on the surface as well as the cavity of the Chi/GO beads to result in MTD-Chi/GO bionanocomposite beads. The MTD drug loading was found to be 683 mg/g. Furthermore, the in vitro release patterns of pure drug and the drug encapsulated with Chi/GO beads are explored in simulated gastric as well as simulated intestinal fluids with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) of pH 1.2 and 7.4, respectively. As-synthesized bionanocomposite beads have shown excellent stability and capacity for extended release of the MTD drug as compared to the pure drug in terms of bioavailability in both media. The cumulative release data are fitted with the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetics and f irst-order reaction kinetics at pH 1.2 and 7.4. The synthesized bionanocomposite beads have good potential to minimize the multiple-dose frequency with the sustained drug release property and can reduce the side effects due to the drug.

An Update on Graphene Oxide: Applications and Toxicity

“…GO has gained considerable interest as a potential nanocarrier platform including biomedical applications . GO has a large surface area, low toxicity, biodegradability, high drug holding capacity, and targeted drug delivery system . Graphite/graphene/GO (Table ) is an allotrope of carbon nanomaterials and a relatively new field of major implications for biomedical use.…”

“… 223 GO has a large surface area, low toxicity, biodegradability, high drug holding capacity, and targeted drug delivery system. 224 Graphite/graphene/GO ( Table 15 ) is an allotrope of carbon nanomaterials and a relatively new field of major implications for biomedical use. In 2011, Feng et al published a paper on graphene for biomedical applications.…”

Fabrication and Evaluation of Graphene Oxide/Hydroxypropyl Cellulose/Chitosan Hybrid Aerogel for 5-Fluorouracil Release

“…The huge specific surface area of GO is capable of immobilizing drugs with π–π stacking and hydrogen bond, which has an important effect on the drug loading and release [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. CS/GO bionanocomposite beads were developed for the loading of metronidazole; the obtained carrier has good potential to minimize the multiple-dose frequency with its sustained drug release property and can reduce the side effects [ 25 ]. CS/GO microspheres have also been used for the pH-controlled release of amoxicillin; the drug loading efficiency was notably enhanced after the incorporation of GO, and 40.22% and 15.18% of drug release was observed at pH 1.2 and pH 7.4, respectively [ 26 ].…”

Graphene Oxide Thin Films with Drug Delivery Function

“…Another potential application for GO-based compounds is as a carrier and/or enhancer for antibacterial or antimicrobial agents [ 6 , 76 , 88 , 89 , 90 ].…”