Graphene oxide (GO) possesses excellent mechanical strength, biocompatibility, colloidal stability, large surface area and high adsorption capability. It has driven to cancer nanotechnology to defeat cancer therapy obstacles, via integration into three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel network with biocompatible polymers as nanocomposites carrier, and controllable release of anticancer drugs. Specifically, the surface of GO affords π-π stacking and hydrophilic interactions with anticancer drugs. Additionally, modification of GO with various polymers such as natural and synthetic polymers enhances its biodegradability, drug loading, and target delivery. In this review, GO based hydrogels research accomplishments are reviewed on the aspects of crosslinking strategies, preparation methods, the model drug, polymer conjugation and modification with targeting ligands. Moreover, swelling kinetics, drug release profile and biological activity in vivo and in vitro are discussed. The biocompatibility of GO based hydrogels is also discussed from the perspective of its nano-bio interfaces. Apart from that, the clinical potential of GO based hydrogels and its major challenges are addressed in detail. Finally, this review concludes with a summary and invigorating future perspectives of GO based hydrogels for anticancer drug delivery. It is anticipated that this review can stimulate a new research gateway to facilitate the development of anticancer drug delivery by harnessing the unique properties of GO based hydrogels, such as large surface area, chemical purity, high loading capacity of drug, chemical stability, and the nature of lipophilic for cell membrane penetration.

Graphene oxide-based hydrogels as a nanocarrier for anticancer drug delivery

Recently, it has been found that moxifloxacin, an antibiotic drug, promotes wound healing without induction to bacterial resistance. Therefore, it has been incorporated into 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) based hydrogel wound dressings, for its slow delivery and to enhance its wound curing potential, beside minimizing the adverse effects of systemic drug delivery. These polymer films were characterized by FTIR, solid state 13C NMR, SEM, AFM, XRD, TGA/DTA/DTG, DSC, and swelling measurements. Some important properties of the hydrogel wound dressings like wound fluid absorption, mechanical strength, permeability to O2, H2O vapour and microbes, blood compatibility, protein adsorption, antioxidant activity, ex-vivo mucoadhesion, in-vitro drug release and wound healing potential on an animal model have also been studied in the present work. These hydrogel dressings have taken 7.22 ± 0.26 g wound fluid per gram of gel and showed haemolytic potential of 0.95% and a water vapour transmission rate of 348.57 g per m2 per day. The release of moxifloxacin occurred through a non Fickian diffusion mechanism. The histological studies have revealed effective healing both in the case of wounds treated with drug loaded and unloaded hydrogel wound dressings, which has been proved by the absence of inflammation, matured fibrous tissues, well organised fibroblasts, and blood capillaries. Antioxidant assays showed the free radical scavenging ability of the hydrogel dressings. A correlation, between surface roughness and mucoadhesion, has been established. Overall, these dressings will not only enhance the wound curing process but also take care of the other aspects of wound health and skin regeneration.

Designing bio-mimetic moxifloxacin loaded hydrogel wound dressing to improve antioxidant and pharmacology properties

Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded gum acacia/poly(SA) hydrogels.

Natural gum polysaccharides as efficient tissue engineering and drug delivery biopolymers

Nanocomposites of pluronic F127 modified reduced graphene oxide (PF127-rGO) with polyethylene glycol plasticize gum arabic (PGA) was prepared by evaporating an aqueous solution mixture of PF127-rGO and PGA. PF127-rGO was synthesized by the in-situ reduction of graphene oxide using hydrazine in presence of pluronic F127 and characterized by the Uv–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wide angle x-ray scattering (WAXS), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman spectroscopy. The Uv–Vis and Raman spectroscopy results indicate that pluronic F127 functionalization does not hamper the structure of rGO, and TEM image indicates, the pluronic F127 anchored rGO sheets remain exfoliated in diluted aqueous solution of PF127-rGO. WAXS, FTIR and TGA studies confirms the functionalization of rGO with pluronic F127. PF127-rGO 2.5, PF127-rGO 5 and PF127-rGO 7.5 nanocomposites were fabricated, where the numbers represent the weight percentage of PF127-rGO with respect to PGA. The composite films were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), FTIR, WAXS and mechanical property study. FESEM and WAXS studies show good dispersion of PF127-rGO sheets in the PGA matrix. The FTIR results indicate a significant interaction between functional groups of PF127-rGO and functional groups of PGA. PF127-rGO 7.5 shows a 124% increase of stress at break and 185% increase of Young's modulus compared to pure PGA.

Kuriakose Cinthya

Papers

Modified gum arabic cross-linked gelatin scaffold for biomedical applications.