A chitosan-modified graphene nanogel for noninvasive controlled drug release.
A near infrared (NIR) triggered drug delivery platform based on the chitosan-modified chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) incorporated into a thermosensitive nanogel (CGN) was developed. CGN exhibited an NIR-induced thermal effect similar to that of CRGO, reversible thermo-responsive characteristics at 37-42 °C and high doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) loading capacity (48 wt%). The DOX loaded CGN (DOX-CGN) released DOX faster at 42 °C than at 37 °C. The fluorescence images revealed DOX expression in the cytoplasm of cancer cells when incubated with DOX-CGN at 37 °C but in the nucleus at 42 °C. Upon irradiation with NIR light (808 nm), a rapid, repetitive DOX release from the DOX-CGN was observed. Furthermore, the cancer cells incubated with DOX-CGN and irradiated with NIR light displayed significantly greater cytotoxicity than without irradiation owing to NIR-triggered increase in temperature leading to nuclear DOX release. These results demonstrate CGN's promising application for on-demand drug release by NIR light.


BACKGROUND
These investigators report the successful development of a novel near infrared triggered drug delivery platform based on chitosan-modified chemically reduced graphene oxide (CRGO) incorporated into a thermosensitive nanogel (CGN).
Molecular Medicine Department, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA; USF Nanomedicine Research Center, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
Chunyan
C
Wang
Jaya
J
Mallela
Ujjwala Sree
US
Garapati
Sowndharya
S
Ravi
Vignesh
V
Chinnasamy
Yvonne
Y
Girard
Mark
M
Howell
Subhra
S
Mohapatra
D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004705:Endocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D007259:Infrared Rays; D051379:Mice; D000080385:Nanogels; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D011094:Polyethyleneimine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000080385:Nanogels; C413692:polyethylene glycol polyethyleneimine nanogel; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006108:Graphite; D004317:Doxorubicin; D011094:Polyethyleneimine; D048271:Chitosan
Drug release; Graphene; NIR; Nanogel; Photothermal; Thermosensitive