title: Synthesis of a biocompatible gelatin functionalized graphene nanosheets and its application for drug delivery.
abstract: A simple and environmentally friendly synthetic route for the preparation of gelatin functionalized graphene nanosheets (gelatin-GNS) was reported by using exfoliated graphene oxide as a precursor, in which gelatin acted as not only a reducing reagent but also a functionalization reagent to guarantee good dispersibility and stability of the GNS in distilled water and various physiological solutions. The obtained biocompatible gelatin-GNS attaching methotrexate (MTX) via strong π-π stacking interaction, exhibited a high drug loading capacity of MTX and excellent ability for controlled drug release. The pH-dependent release behavior of MTX from MTX@gelatin-GNS showed that the release amount under acid conditions is much higher than that under neutral conditions, which experienced a gelatin-mediated sustained release process. From the cytotoxicity assay, we can see that the MTX@gelatin-GNS showed remarkable toxicity while the gelatin-GNS showed nontoxic at appropriate concentration, both of them might be taken up by A549 cells through a nonspecific endocytosis process. The prepared nanohybrids system offers a novel formulation that combines the unique properties of a biodegradable material, gelatin, and graphene for biomedical applications. Therefore, the gelatin-GNS with good stability and biocompatibility can be selected as an ideal drug carrier to be applied in biomedicine studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Yuqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gou
authors.forename: Chunxia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Fangdi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006108:Graphite; D008727:Methotrexate