Polyacrylic Acid Functionalized Nanographene as a Nanocarrier for Loading and Controlled Release of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride

• Main Authors: Yunping Chen, Yuanyuan Qi, Bin Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Nanomaterials
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/345738

Graphene nanosheets (GNSs) were synthesized by direct current arc discharge and subsequently functionalized by highly hydrophilic polyacrylic acid (PAA). The loading and release of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) on PAA-functionalized GNSs (PAA-GNSs) were investigated. PAA-GNSs were successfully prepared and verified by atomic force microscope (AFM), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopes, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The PAA-GNSs contained about 10 wt% PAA which significantly improved the solubility of GNSs in aqueous media. The efficient loading of DOX onto the PAA-GNSs is as high as 2.404 ± 0.167 mg/mg at the DOX concentration of 0.36 mg/mL. Furthermore, the PPA-GNSs showed strong pH-dependent behavior and efficient slow release ability. Therefore, PAA-GNSs are promising new materials for biological and medical applications.