Development of graphene-drug nanoparticle based supramolecular self assembled pH sensitive hydrogel as potential carrier for targeting MDR tuberculosis

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) resides in mononuclear phagocytes (macrophages) hence selective targeting at the molecular level using Graphene Oxide (GO) Air Dried Hydrogel (ADH) is investigated in present investigation. The GO has capability to form supramolecular self assembly, due to - stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions between surface groups of GO and oppositely charged drug molecule in presence of water. The hydrogel was fabricated using GO and Para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) in solution phase. The fabricated hydrogel was lyophilized to obtain air dried hydrogel (ADH). The ADH showed potent antimicrobial activity and in-vitro cytotoxicity against S. Aureus and E. Coli, and MCF -7 cells respectively. The Alamar blue assay demonstrated the invasive characteristics of ADH in MTB (H37Rv). From the results obtained so far we lead to conclude that ADH is more invasive compared to the equivalent amount of pure PAS. [GRAPHICS] .