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Plasma-Enabled Graphene Quantum Dot Hydrogels as Smart Anticancer Drug Nanocarriers
Darwin Kurniawan1, Jacob Mathew1, Michael Ryan Rahardja1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|February 3, 2023
Summary
Plasma-engineered nanocarriers with nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots offer a smart, pH-responsive system for targeted cancer drug delivery. This environmentally friendly approach enhances drug loading and release monitoring for improved therapeutic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Developing smart drug delivery systems is crucial for effective and low-cost cancer treatments.
- Existing methods often lack site-specificity and microenvironment-responsiveness.
- Smart anticancer drug delivery materials are needed for targeted therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop plasma-engineered smart drug nanocarriers (SDNCs) using chitosan and nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs).
- To achieve pH-responsive drug delivery for cancer treatment.
- To create an environmentally friendly and biocompatible nanographene hydrogel.
Main Methods:
- Utilized customized microplasma processing for creating highly cross-linked SDNCs.
- Incorporated nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (NGQDs) into a chitosan matrix.
- Investigated doxorubicin (DOX) loading via π-π interactions and monitored release using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET).
Main Results:
- Achieved threefold higher toughness in SDNCs compared to control chitosan, without high temperatures or toxic agents.
- Demonstrated enhanced doxorubicin (DOX) loading capability and stable photoluminescence for monitoring.
- Confirmed significant anticancer effects of DOX-loaded SDNCs in cytotoxicity tests and successful cellular uptake into the nucleus.
Conclusions:
- Plasma-engineered SDNCs offer a robust, biocompatible, and pH-responsive platform for targeted cancer drug delivery.
- The developed nanographene hydrogels provide a novel approach for next-generation biomedical applications.
- This method presents an environmentally friendly alternative for smart drug delivery systems.
