Sericin Grafted Multifunctional Curcumin Loaded Fluorinated Graphene Oxide Nanomedicines with Charge Switching Properties for Effective Cancer Cell Targeting

Publication date: Available online 31 October 2019Source: International Journal of PharmaceuticsAuthor(s): Mohammadjavad Jahanshahi, Elaheh Kowsari, Vahid Haddadi-Asl, Mehdi Khoobi, Jong Hyun Lee, Firoz Babu Kadumudi, Sepehr Talebian, Nazila Kamaly, Mehdi MehraliAbstractFluorinated graphene has recently gained much attention for cancer drug delivery, owing to its peculiar properties including high electronegativity difference, magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent, and the photothermal effect. However, the hydrophobic nature of fluorinated graphene greatly hinders its application as a biological material. Herein, a novel green method is reported for synthesis of a pH-sensitive charge-reversal and water-soluble fluorinated graphene oxide, modified with polyethyleneimine anchored to sericin-polypeptide (FPS). This nanocarrier was further loaded with curcumin (Cur), and characterized as a nanocarrier for anti-cancer drug delivery. The synthesized nanocarriers contain two different pH-sensitive amide linkages, which are negatively charged in blood pH (≈7.4) and can prolong circulation times. The amide linkages undergo hydrolysis once they reach the mildly acidic condition (pH≈6.5, corresponding to tumor extracellular matrix), and subsequently once reached the lower acidic condition (pH≈5.5, corresponded to endo/lysosomes microenvironment), the FPS charge can be switched to positive (≈+28 mV), which aids the nuclear release. This nanocarrier was designed to selectively...
Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research