Fabrication of a graphene/C60 nanohybrid via γ-cyclodextrin host-guest chemistry for photodynamic and photothermal therapy

Nanoscale. 2017 Jun 29;9(25):8825-8833. doi: 10.1039/c7nr02922e.

Abstract

The wonderful chemical structures and characteristics of low-dimensional carbon materials have exciting applications in life sciences. In the present study, we developed a facile strategy to conjugate C60 with graphene via host-guest chemistry for targeted phototherapy. A versatile carrier based on folic acid-functionalized graphene (GO-FA) and comprising γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) at its surface was assembled via π-π interaction, creating hybrid structures with drug storage and tumor targeting properties. This γ-CD-modified graphene (GO-FA/Py-γ-CD) is capable of hosting pristine C60 molecules for the fabrication of a GO-FA/Py-γ-CD/C60 nanohybrid. The hybridization of GO-FA, γ-CD, and C60 hinders the aggregation of C60, promotes cellular uptake, enhances light absorption, and finally demonstrates enhanced phototherapy effects of GO-FA/Py-γ-CD/C60. Under Xe lamp irradiation (2 W cm-2) for 4 min, GO-FA/Py-γ-CD/C60 simultaneously causes heating and intracellular ROS production, which further significantly reduces the cell viability to 16.2% at low content of loading (30 μg mL-1). Moreover, it represents an excellent tumor killing efficiency, better than that of the other reported graphene/C60 nanohybrids; thus, this material is suitable for applications in phototherapy of cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Folic Acid
  • Fullerenes*
  • Graphite*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • gamma-Cyclodextrins*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Fullerenes
  • gamma-Cyclodextrins
  • Graphite
  • Folic Acid
  • fullerene C60