Preparation of Poly (methacrylic acid)–Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as a pH-Sensitive Drug Carrier Through in-situ Copolymerization of Methacrylic Acid with Polymerizable Graphene

Abstract

A polymerizable Graphene Oxide (Graphene Oxide Monomer, GOM) was synthesized through attaching vinyl groups onto graphene oxide sheets. GOM was copolymeized with methacrylic acid in different ratios. Obtained nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDX to study their properties. Naproxen was entrapped in these pH-sensitive nano-carriers and the in vitro release profiles were established in both enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF, pH 1) and (SIF, pH 7.4) respectively. It was observed that the drug release in SIF was higher, hence the prepared nanocomposite could be considered as a suitable carrier for colon specific drug delivery.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Drug delivery
• Graphene oxide (GO)
• pH-sensitive
• Polymerizable graphene