Ambient pressure dried graphene oxide-silica composite aerogels as pharmaceutical nanocarriers

Research on the production of graphene, its derivatives and composites has been enhanced in the past two decades. Graphene is well known for its exceptional physicochemical properties including extensive surface area, good biocompatibility, high loading capacity, and functionalization capability make it an ideal candidate for drug delivery systems. When compared to other nanomaterials, aerogels are relatively new materials characterized by their unparalleled porosities and extensive surface areas. The ability to carry drugs is crucial in drug delivery systems, and the large surface area of graphene coupled with the high porosity of aerogels presents a significant potential for use in this domain. In this study, graphene oxide-silica composite aerogel nanostructure was synthesized first, using the sol-gel method and ambient pressure drying techniques, which offer advantages in terms of both time and cost efficiency. Then, the formulation was also fabricated functionalized with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Different physicochemical characteristics of these new materials were investigated using techniques such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Drug loading tests were done using curcumin and methylene blue, while the biocompatibility of the nanocarriers was assessed through a cell viability assay. Results of different tests confirmed the fabrication of aerogel with different surface functionalization groups, which had encapsulation capacity ranged between 20% and 60% and high biocompatibility after exposing with cells. Based on these promising results, this study confirms that aerogel-based platforms have potential as drug carriers.