Polymer-graphene nanoassemblies and their applications in cancer theranostics

Background and Objective: Graphene-based nanomaterials have received increasing attention due to their unique physical-chemical properties including two-dimensional planar structure, large surface area, chemical and mechanical stability, superconductivity and good biocompatibility. On the other hand, graphene-based nanomaterials have been explored as theranostics agents, the combination of therapeutics and diagnostics. In recent years, grafting hydrophilic polymer moieties have been introduced as an efficient approach to improve the properties of graphene-based nanomaterials and obtain new nanoassemblies for cancer therapy. Methods and Results: This review would illustrate biodistribution, cellular uptake and toxicity of polymer-graphene nanoassemblies and summarize part of successes achieved in cancer treatment using such nanoassemblies. Conclusion: The observations showed successful targeting functionality of the polymer-GO conjugations and demonstrated a reduction of the side effects of anti-cancer drugs for normal tissues

Developing Novel Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin-Based Nanosponges as Carriers for Anticancer Hydrophobic Agents: Overcoming Limitations of Host–Guest Complexes in a Comparative Evaluation

This study aimed to design and fabricate novel hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-based hypercrosslinked polymers, called nanosponges, as carriers for anticancer hydrophobic agents and compare them with host–guest complexes of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, a remarkable solubilizer, to investigate their application in improving the pharmaceutical properties of the flavonoid naringenin, a model hydrophobic nutraceutical with versatile anticancer effects. For this purpose, three new nanosponges, crosslinked with pyromellitic dianhydride, citric acid, and carbonyldiimidazole, were fabricated. The carbonate nanosponge synthesized by carbonyldiimidazole presented the highest naringenin loading capacity (≈19.42%) and exerted significantly higher antiproliferative effects against MCF-7 cancer cells compared to free naringenin. Additionally, this carbonate nanosponge formed a stable nanosuspension, providing several advantages over the naringenin/hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin host–guest complex, including an increase of about 3.62-fold in the loading capacity percentage, sustained released pattern (versus the burst pattern of host–guest complex), and up to an 8.3-fold increase in antiproliferative effects against MCF-7 cancer cells. Both naringenin-loaded carriers were less toxic to L929 murine fibroblast normal cells than MCF-7 cancer cells. These findings suggest that hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-based carbonate nanosponges could be a good candidate as a drug delivery system with potential applications in cancer treatment