Camptothecin loaded graphene oxide nanoparticle functionalized with polyethylene glycol and folic acid for anticancer drug delivery

Graphene oxide nanomaterials are widely used to achieve effective cancer treatment. In this study, a novel graphene oxide mediated drug delivery system was synthesized by combining anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) to the large surface area of graphene oxide by pi-pi stacking. Initially graphene oxide was synthesized by hummer's method and to obtain a more precise drug delivery, the system was loaded onto polyethylene glycol (PEG) decorated with folic acid. The resultant conjugate was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, UV-visible Spectrophotometery, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The graphene-oxide-polyethylene glycol-folic acid - camptothecin (GO-PEG-FA -CPT) drug delivery system showed a pH dependent drug release as observed by UV analysis. The anticancer activity of the synthesized drug delivery system was studied by MTT assay using MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. The conjugate showed enhanced anticancer activity and thus could be used as a potential candidate for drug delivery.