Graphene Oxide–PEG–Protocatechuic Acid Nanocomposite Formulation with Improved Anticancer Properties
Bullo Saifullah,
Kalaivani Buskaran,
Rabia Baby Shaikh,
Farahnaz Barahuie,
Sharida Fakurazi,
Mohd Aris Mohd Moklas,
Mohd Zobir Hussein
Affiliations
Bullo Saifullah
Laboratory for Vaccine and Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Biosciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Kalaivani Buskaran
Laboratory for Vaccine and Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Biosciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Rabia Baby Shaikh
Education Department, Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur 65200, Sindh, Pakistan
Farahnaz Barahuie
Faculty of Industry and Mining, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan 98167, Sistan and Bauchetan, Iran
Sharida Fakurazi
Laboratory for Vaccine and Immunotherapeutics, Institute of Biosciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Aris Mohd Moklas
Department of Human Anatomy Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohd Zobir Hussein
Material Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
The treatment of cancer through chemotherapy is limited by its toxicity to healthy tissues and organs, and its inability to target the cancer site. In this study, we have designed an anticancer nanocomposite delivery system for protocatechuic acid (PCA) using graphene oxide–polyethylene glycol as the nanocarrier, and coated with folic acid (GO–PEG–PCA–FA) for targeting the cancer cells. The designed anticancer delivery system was found to show much better anticancer activity than the free drug PCA against liver cancer HEP-G2 cells and human colon cancer HT-29 cells; at same time, it was found to be less toxic to normal fibroblast 3T3 cells. The folate-coated anticancer delivery system was found to show better activity then the free drug and the uncoated anticancer delivery system. The in vitro release of the PCA was found to be sustained in human physiological pHs, i.e., blood pH 7.4 and intracellular lysosomal pH 4.8. These in vitro findings are highly encouraging for further in vivo evaluation studies.
