Adsorption of Cisplatin on Oxidized Graphene Nanoribbons for Improving the Uptake in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma Cell Line A549.

Background: Graphene nanoribbons are nanosized strips of graphene with unique physicochemical properties like higher drug loading capacity and affinity for tumor cells.

Objective: The principal objective of this research was to develop oxidized graphene nanoribbons (O-GNRs)-based delivery system for cisplatin against non-small cell lung carcinoma cell line A549 by selective endocytosis.

Methods: The O-GNRs prepared using various synthetic steps like oxidative unzipping were evaluated for various parameters like morphology, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) study, % adsorption efficacy, Differential scanning colometric (DSC) study and in-vitro efficacy studies.

Results: Graphene nanoribbons with the length of 200-250 nm and width of 20-40 nm were obtained. The FTIR spectrum of drug-loaded O-GNRs exhibited a characteristic peak at 1550 cm-1 (- N-H group) of cisplatin. The DSC indicated the presence of sharp endothermic peaks at 59°C (PEG), 254°C (-C-NH) and 308.6°C (-C-Pt). The % adsorption efficiency was found to be 74.56 ± 0.798% with in-vitro release in controlled manner (63.36% ± 0.489%) for 24 h.

Conclusion: The nanoformulation showed an average inhibition of 22.72% at a lower dose of cisplatin (> 25%) by passive targeting on cell line A549 by DNA alkylation. In the near future, graphene-based systems will establish potential nanosystems in cancer treatment due to the additive effect of graphene with various therapeutic agents.