Targeted drug delivery potential of hydrogel biocomposites containing partially and thermally reduced graphene oxide and natural polymers prepared via green process

Abstract

Hydrogel biocomposites containing a combination of partially and thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and natural polymer were prepared by free radical polymerization. The effect of rGO and the natural polymer on the morphology of the hydrogel composites was studied. The 0.007 g of rGO was used for uniform dispersion within the hydrogel composite matrix. The swelling kinetic and swelling ratios of the composites were evaluated at pH 1.2 and 7.4. Drug release studies were performed at pH values of 1.2 and 7.4 simulating gastric juice and intestinal fluid pH, respectively. The hydrogel biocomposites were able to bypass the acidity of the simulated gastric juice without liberating substantial amounts of the loaded drug, suggesting that rGO containing hydrogels are potential targeted drug delivery systems. The hydrogel biocomposites were further characterized by Fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry.

Gelatin-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Hydrogels for Kluyveromyces lactis Encapsulation: Potential Applications in Probiotics and Bioreactor Packings

“…This nanomaterial is obtained from graphene by chemical oxidation of natural graphite [61]. Additionally, it has been reported to exhibit high loading capacity of drug-like molecules, large surface area, negative electric charge, and the presence of surface functional groups such as hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl, and carboxylic [62], which might enhance colloidal stability [63] and enable different bioconjugation routes to other nanomaterials, polymers and drugs [64]. Modification of hydrogels by GO aims to improve the material's mechanical response (tensile and compression strength resistance) and generate a system for controlled loading, delivery of drugs or bioactive agents [65], and tissue engineering [66].…”

Use of graphene-based materials as carriers of bioactive agents

“…This demonstrates the potential use of graphene-based materials as enhancers of other delivery systems. Such potential has been further corroborated by Aderibigbe and coworkers [60] , who have generated a hydrogel biocomposite from gelation of a mixture containing acrylamide, N,N’ -methylenebisacrylamide, N,N,N,N’ -tetramethylethylenediamine, and potassium persulfate, with rGO serving as a modifier. Compared to the blank gel, the one containing rGO has shown higher release sustainability, and has displayed pH-responsiveness.…”

Microporous PDMAEMA‐based stimuli‐responsive hydrogel and its application in drug release

“…During the past decade, rapid progress has been made on the design and exploitation of novel systems as carriers for drug delivery. Use of responsive hydrogels as delivery systems for replacing the traditional oral delivery or injection of therapeutics has shown great promise due to their intrinsic advantages, the “soft and wet” hydrogels are similar as the tissue of human body, which could be used in controlled drug release in vivo as a simulated tissue . Moreover, the stimuli responsiveness of gels ascribed to the special functional groups in polymers makes the gels swell or deswell in response to external triggers such as pH, temperature, electric field, light, or biomolecules, which achieves the drug release at a specific predetermined temporal and/or spatial manner within the body …”