Triggered pH/redox responsive release of doxorubicin from prepared highly stable graphene with thiol grafted Pluronic

Strategy, to develop stable graphene and well control hydrophobic drug release from the prepared graphene, is reported to achieve a biomedical platform in drug delivery system. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) has been prepared using quaternized 2-chloro-3',4'-dihydroxyacetophenone to poly(ethylene glycol)-g-poly(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) [PEG-g-PDMA, QC-PEG] following catechol chemistry which exhibited excellent dispersibility in water. Installation of thiol grafted Pluronic (Plu-SH) results formation of disulfide bonds surrounding rGO/QC-PEG matrix and further aids to achieve high DOX loading efficiency as well as trigged responsive controlled release behavior of DOX from the matrixes by redox responsive Plu-SH and pH sensitive. The rGO/QC-PEG with Plu-SH matrix showed significant stability under different physiological conditions. In vitro DOX release was conducted against different reductive environment and at different pH to figure out the release kinetics. Investigation from MTT assay assures more biocompatible behavior of rGO/QC-PEG/Plu-SH than prepared reduced graphene oxide. Effects of introducing Plu-SH was flashed when QDs loaded rGO/QC-PEG was applied to cell and examining the emitted fluorescence behavior from the cell by confocal images. The confocal investigation showed that high quenching effect of graphene is an obstacle to trace their position if it is used in cell tracking where application of Plu-SH could minimize this. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.