Multi-functionalised graphene nanoflakes as tumour-targeting theranostic drug-delivery vehicles.

ABSTRACT: Graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) consist of a graphene sheet approximately 30 nm in diameter with a pristine aromatic system and an edge terminated with carboxylic acid groups. Their high water solubility and relative ease of functionalisation using carboxylate chemistry means that GNFs are potential scaffolds for the synthesis of theranostic agents. In this work, GNFs were multi-functionalised with derivatives of (i) a peptide-based Glu-NH-C(O)-NH-Lys ligand that binds prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), (ii) a potent anti-mitotic drug (R)-ispinesib, (iii) the chelate desferrioxamine B (DFO), and (iv) an albumin-binding tag reported to extend pharmacokinetic half-life in vivo. Subsequent ⁶⁸Ga radiochemistry and experiments in vitro and in vivo were

SUBMITTER: Lamb J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7449665 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature