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ABSTRACT
The remarkable properties of graphene oxide, a shining dynamo, opened new possibilities for delivering the drug. The present work aims to fabricate a graphene-based porous hydrogel system that fades its side effects and encourages its utilization as a drug carrier. Graphene oxide was impregnated in the polymeric matrix for gastro-retentive drug delivery. Porogen was added to create a superporous structure. The extrusion-dripping technique is used to fabricate low density, super porous, and floating hydrogel beads, which were considered a practical approach to target the drug in a controlled and sustained manner in the stomach. The fabricated graphene oxide impregnates superporous beads were characterized by physicochemical analysis, morphological parameters, PXRD, swelling study, drug-release pattern, and in-vitro floating ability. The homogenous nature of fabricated samples was analyzed by weight and size variation. Micrometric properties were estimated to calculate the density and flow ability of superporous beads. The stability and shelf life of prepared hydrogels were performed by accelerated stability analysis according to ICH guidelines. Doxorubicin was chosen as a model anticancer drug. The pi–pi stacking technique is responsible for a considerable loading of the drug onto graphene oxide (GO). However, the successful preparation of low-density graphene oxide impregnates superporous hydrogel beads shows excellent floating ability, thus making it a promising candidate for stomach targeting.
Graphical abstract
HIGHLIGHTS
The present work aims to fabricate a graphene-based porous hydrogel system that fades its side effects and encourages its utilization as a drug carrier. Graphene oxide was impregnated in the polymeric matrix for gastro-retentive drug delivery. Porogen was added to create a super porous structure. Doxorubicin was chosen as a model anticancer drug.
The extrusion-dripping technique is used to fabricate low density, super porous, and floating hydrogel beads which were considered a practical approach to target the drug in a controlled and sustained manner in the stomach.
We aimed to introduce a new concept of using hydrophilic polymers as fundamental excipients in the development of superporous hydrogel beads that would be promising candidate for stomach targeting and accelerate the drug release.
These systems have potential advantages over previously reported carrier systems in terms of high drug loading, stability and the percentage of drug release was controlled at cancerous pH of about 70.34%. The in vitro and in vivo floating ability confirmed the beads float well in a gastric environment 6hrs. By integrating targeted modules of hydrophilic polymers, a novel synthesis approach enables the fabrication of low-density graphene oxide impregnates superporous hydrogel beads show excellent floating ability, thus making it a promising candidate for stomach targeting.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Sadia Rehman
Sadia Rehman is an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics at Riphah International University Sahiwal, Pakistan. She completed her PhD at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Her research interests include novel drug delivery, nanotechnology, controlled drug delivery systems, and hydrogels.
Asadullah Madni
Dr. Muhammad Asadullah Madni is a Professor of Pharmaceutics at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan, where he also earned his PhD in Pharmaceutics. He has established a Pharmaceutical Lab at the university and currently leads a research group. His research focuses on novel drug delivery, nanotechnology, pharmacokinetics, and sustained drug delivery systems.
Qazi Adnan Jamil
Dr. Qazi Adnan Jamil is a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacy at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. His research interests encompass pharmaceutics, drug delivery, cosmetics, and clinical pharmacy.
M. Rafi Raza
Dr. Muhammad Rafi Raza is an Associate Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad Sahiwal Campus. He earned his PhD from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia in 2012. His research interests include advanced materials processing techniques and materials characterization using tools such as SEM/FESEM, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TGA, and DSC. He holds one patent, 05 book chapters and has published over 90 journal and conference articles.
Hina Shukat
Dr. Hina Shoukat is an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutics at Shahida Islam College of Pharmacy Lodhran, Pakistan. She completed her PhD at The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Her research focuses on the development of micro and nanoscale drug delivery systems, with interests in novel drug delivery, nanotechnology, pharmacokinetics, solubility enhancement, mucoadhesive drug delivery systems, and hydrogels.
Ahmed Nadeem
Dr. Ahmad Nadeem has around 18 years of teaching and research experience. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry in 2004 from VP Chest Institute, Delhi University, India. His research focuses on inflammatory and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and autism. Dr. Nadeem has over 150 peer-reviewed publications with an average ISI impact factor of 3.5 per publication and more than 4500 cumulative citations. In 2008, he was awarded a research grant at West Virginia University, USA, for research in lung inflammation.