A DFT Study of Graphitic Carbon Nitride as Drug Delivery Carrier for Flutamide (Anticancer Drug)

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is the most efficient nanocarrier which is used in the delivery of many drugs. In this study, g-C3N4 was used as a carrier for flutamide (anticancer drug) loading, and its effectiveness as a drug-delivery carrier for flutamide drug is explored. At ground and excited states, various calculations including noncovalent-interaction analysis (NCI) charge-decomposition analysis (CDA), electron localization function (ELF) analysis, Nonbonding-orbital analysis (NBO), dipole moment and bandgap of g-C3N4, flutamide drug and g-C3N4-flutamide complex (g-C3N4-FLUT complex) were performed. The nitrogen atom of g-C3N4 makes a weak van der Waals interaction with the oxygen and fluorine of flutamide anticancer drug, and these interactions were further illustrated by the NCI graph. These weak van der Waals interactions are helpful in drug-offloading from g-C3N4 at its targeted-spot. The investigation of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) demonstrated that the charge was transferred from g-C3N4 to flutamide drug. To further understand the phenomena of charge-transfer in the g-C3N4-FLUT complex, CDA analysis was performed. The calculated lambda max of excited states of g-C3N4-FLUT was blue-shifted by 25nm. The Photoinduced Electron Transfer (PET) process was fully described by the electron-hole theory, which demonstrated that the fluorescence-quenching may occur. Overall, it can be stated that the g-C3N4 is a promising nanocarrier for use in drug delivery among other nanocarriers owing to their higher drug loading capability and low cytotoxicity. DFT calculations are carried out to explore the efficiency of Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as drug delivery system for Flutamide drug. NCI plot of g-C3N4-Flutamide complex showed targeted offloading of drug. The results show that g-C3N4 possesses significant therapeutic potential as a drug carrier for Flutamide drug.

Automated summary

The study demonstrates that graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has significant potential as a drug carrier for flutamide drug, with weak van der Waals interactions between the nitrogen atom of g-C3N4 and the flutamide drug facilitating drug offloading at targeted spots.