Aim: To develop near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive reduced graphene oxide (RGO)-based nanocomposites with improved stability, biocompatibility and enhanced in vitro chemo-photothermal therapeutic efficiency.
Materials & methods: Poly(allylamine hydrochloride)-functionalized RGO-based nanocomposites (RGO-PAH) were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. In vitro biocompatibility, cellular uptake and in vitro synergistic chemo-photothermal therapeutic efficiency of drug-loaded RGO-PAH nanocomposites were evaluated along with elucidation of cell death mechanism.
Results: RGO-PAH nanocomposites showed excellent photothermal transduction, pH-dependent drug release, rapid internalization, high biocompatibility and highly efficient synergistic in vitro chemo-photothermal therapy via apoptosis induction through increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production followed by oxidative DNA damage.
Conclusion: Excellent biocompatibility and highly efficient chemo-photothermal killing of cancer cells at a very low concentration reflects the potential of RGO-PAH as a NIR-responsive therapeutic agent for cancer therapy.
Keywords: DNA fragmentation; apoptosis; doxorubicin; near-infrared light; poly(allylamine hydrochloride); reactive oxygen species; reduced graphene oxide; synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.