title: Acoustic cavitation induced generation of stabilizer-free, extremely stable reduced graphene oxide nanodispersion for efficient delivery of paclitaxel in cancer cells.
abstract: Graphene is one of the highly explored nanomaterials due to its unique and extraordinary properties. In this study, by utilizing a hydrothermal reduction method, graphene oxide (GO) was successfully converted to reduced graphene oxide (RGO) without using any toxic reducing agents. Following this, with the use of ultrasonic cavitation, profoundly stable few layer thick RGO nanodispersion was generated without employing any stabilizers or surfactants. During ultrasonication, shockwaves from the collapse of bubbles cause a higher dispersing energy to the graphene nanosheets which surpass the forces of Van der Waal's and π-π stacking and thus pave the way to form a stable aqueous nanodispersion of graphene. Ultrasonication systems with different power intensity have been employed to determine the optimum conditions for obtaining the most stable RGO dispersion. The optimised conditions of ultrasonic treatments led to the development of a very stable reduced graphene oxide (RGO) aqueous dispersion. The stability was observed for two years and was analyzed by using Zetasizer by measuring the particle size and zeta potential at regular intervals and found to have exceptional stability. The excellent stability at physiological pH promotes its utilization in nano drug delivery application as a carrier for Paclitaxel (Ptx), an anticancer drug. The in vitro cytotoxicity analysis of Ptx loaded RGO nanodispersion by MTT assay performed on the cell lines revealed the potential of the nanodispersion as a suitable drug carrier. Studies on normal lung cells, MRC-5 and nasopharyngeal cancer cells, HK-1 supported the biocompatibility of RGO-Ptx towards normal cell line. This investigation shows the potential of exceptionally stable RGO-Ptx nanodispersion in nano drug delivery applications.
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Renu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Geetha Bai
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Kasturi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muthoosamy
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fiona Natalia
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Shipton
authors.affiliation: Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NATAM), Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: Sivakumar.Manickam@nottingham.edu.my.
authors.forename: Sivakumar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manickam
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004355:Drug Stability; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010087:Oxides; D006108:Graphite; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: Aqueous dispersion; Cavitation; Nanodispersion; Paclitaxel; Reduced graphene oxide; Shockwave; Ultrasound