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Poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated nano-graphene oxide for photodynamic therapy

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  • Special Topic · Cancer Nanotechnology
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Abstract

A novel methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol) modified nano-graphene oxide (NGO-mPEG) was designed and synthesized as a photosensitizer (PS) carrier for photodynamic therapy of cancer. NGO with a size below 200 nm was prepared using a modified Hummers’ method. NGO was observed by AFM to exhibit a structure with single-layer graphene oxide sheets down to a few nanometers in height. Hydrophilic mPEG conjugation of NGO (NGO-mPEG) was found to enhance solubility in cell culture media. No apparent cytotoxicity of the NGO-mPEG was observed towards MCF-7 carcinoma cell line. Zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc), a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy, was loaded in the NGO-PEG through π-π stacking and hydrophobic interactions, with the drug loading efficiency up to 14 wt%. Hydrophobic ZnPc was internalized in MCF-7 cells, exhibiting a pronounced phototoxicity in the cells under Xe light irradiation. The results indicate a great potential of NGO-mPEG for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Advanced Materials and Nano Biomedicine (iNANO), Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China

    HaiQing Dong, ZhiLei Zhao, HuiYun Wen, YongYong yongyong_li@tongji.edu.cn Li, AiJun Shen, Frank Pilger, Chao Lin & DongLu Shi

  2. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA

    DongLu Shi

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  1. HaiQing Dong
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  2. ZhiLei Zhao
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  3. HuiYun Wen
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  4. YongYong yongyong_li@tongji.edu.cn Li
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  5. FangFang Guo
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  6. AiJun Shen
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  7. Frank Pilger
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  8. Chao Lin
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  9. DongLu Shi
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Correspondence to DongLu Shi.

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Dong, H., Zhao, Z., Wen, H. et al. Poly(ethylene glycol) conjugated nano-graphene oxide for photodynamic therapy. Sci. China Chem. 53, 2265–2271 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4114-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11426-010-4114-9

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