Multifunctional graphene-based magnetic nanocarriers optimized with copolymer Pluronic F127 for biomedical applications
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abstract
The limitations of current cancer therapies prompt the urgent need for a more effective therapeutic
strategy [1]. Graphene-based magnetic nanoparticles (GbMNPs) due to their unique properties,
such as high chemical and thermal stability, high charge carrier mobility, large surface area for
functionalization and superparamagnetic properties, have the potentiality to be used as efficient
multifunctional nanocarrier systems [2]. However, one of the challenges of GbMNPs in biomedical
applications is their tendency for agglomeration or precipitation in electrolyte solutions, such as
those of body fluids [3]. To overcome this drawback, the developed GbMNPs were grafted with
copolymer Pluronic F127 (PF127), yielding the materials denoted as GbMNPs@PF127.
PF127 is a water-soluble and biocompatible triblock copolymer (PEO100-PPO65-PEO100) approved by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as food additive and in pharmaceutical
formulations [4]. This grafting strategy allows the incorporation of a hydrophilic corona that
reduces the aggregation of nanoparticles and the adsorption of blood proteins [4, 5]. Also, increases
the biocompatibility of the nanosystems and its colloidal stability, prolonging blood circulation [5].
In this study, GbMNPs@PF127 were covalently conjugated with Doxorubicin (DOX), a highly
effective chemotherapeutic drug against a broad spectrum of cancers. The developed therapeutic
nanosystems were characterized and investigated to be used as multifunctional nanocarriers to
combine thermo-chemotherapy, revealing exceptional features, such as: (i) high loading of the
chemotherapeutic drug DOX; (ii) high pH stimuli-responsive controlled release; (iii) high heating
efficiency profile under AMF with thermo-responsive drug release; as well as (iv) good haem- and
biocompatibility even at high concentrations.
The presented strategy and findings can represent a new way to design and synthesize highly stable
graphene-based materials with novel structures for synergetic thermo-chemotherapy triggered by
the abnormal cell microenvironment for a more effective treatment of cancer.
This work was financially supported by: Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 Associate Laboratory LSRE-LCM
funded by FEDER through COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) - and by nationalfunds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia R.O.R. acknowledgs the PHD scholarship SFRH/BD/97658/2013 granted by FCT. A.M.T.S. acknowledges the FCT Investigator 2013
Programme (IF/01501/2013), with financing from the European Social Fund and the Human Potential Operational Programme.
