Heparin modified graphene oxide for pH-sensitive sustained release of doxorubicin hydrochloride

A novel nanocarrier of heparin (Hep) modified graphene oxide (GO) was fabricated via a linker (adipic dihydrazide) and used as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system for controlling the release of anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) for anti-tumor therapy. The finally obtained nanocarrier was GO-ADH-Hep with better stability, blood compatibility and biocompatibility confirmed by the hemolytic test and in vitro cytotoxicity study. Its safety issue was greatly improved via Hep modification. The amount of DOX loaded onto GO-ADH-Hep was significantly high and dependent on pH value. The release rate of DOX from GO-ADH-Hep/DOX was pH-sensitive and much-slower than that of free DOX solution suggesting the sustained drug-release capacity of this prepared nanocomplexes. In addition, the results of cytotoxicity study illustrated that this fabricated nanocomplexes displayed effective cytotoxicity to MCF-7 and HepG2 cells. What's more, the results of the in vivo pharmacokinetic study was also indicated that the GO-ADH-Hep/DOX nanocomplexes could significantly prolong the retention time of DOX in vivo and this was consistent with the in vitro drug release performance. And finally, according to the biodistribution study, DOX delivered by GO-ADH-Hep could reduce cardiotoxicity deriving from DOX solution and also decrease the pulmonary toxicity deriving from unmodified GO. Based on the in vitro and in vivo investigations, the fabricated GO-ADH-Hep could be a promising candidate as an ideal nano-carrier for drug delivery and anti-cancer therapy.