Stimuli-responsive graphene-incorporated multifunctional chitosan for drug delivery applications: a review

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Recently, the use of chitosan (CS) in the drug delivery has reached an acceptable maturity. Graphene-based drug delivery is also increasing rapidly due to its unique physical, mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. Therefore, the combination of CS and graphene can provide a promising carrier for the loading and controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Area covered: In this review, we will outline the advantages of this new drug delivery system (DDS) in association with CS and graphene alone and will list the various forms of these carriers, which have been studied in recent years as DDSs. Finally, we will discuss the application of this hybrid composite in other fields.

Expert opinion: The introducing the GO amends the mechanical characteristics of CS, which is a major problem in the use of CS-based carriers in drug delivery due to burst release in a CS-based controlled release system through the poor mechanical strength of CS. Many related research on this area are still not fully unstated and occasionally they seem inconsistent in spite of the intent to be complementary. Therefore, a sensitive review may be needed to understand the role of graphene in CS/graphene carriers for future drug delivery applications.

KEYWORDS:

• Graphene
• chitosan
• stimuli-sensitive nanocomposite
• drug delivery
• hydrogel
• nanoparticle

Article highlights

• Drug delivery through CS-based carriers to the targeted place poses specific concerns that may be addressed via functionalization with graphene into a composite.

• Considering the unique properties of CS in biomedicine particularly in drug delivery that numerous researches are annually reported in this field and accelerating the use of graphene in drug delivery, choosing CS and graphene to design an efficient new DDS can be a good option that has been addressed in recent years.

• The introduction of GO improves the mechanical properties of CS, which is a major problem in the use of CS-based carriers in drug delivery. Burst release in a CS-based controlled release system is probably due to the poor mechanical strength of CS.

• While the results of the CS/graphene are very promising as carrier, additional trainings are required to develop and design a new carrier based on CS and graphene for effective drug delivery, and exactly will appear in the next few years.

• Many applications of the CS/graphene as a promising nanocarrier have been limited to the release of controlled anticancer drugs for the cancer treatment; however, the application of this type of hybrid for other treatments needs to be expanded.

This box summarizes key points contained in the article.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.