Table 5.

Recent applications of Graphene derivatives for various types of drug delivery

Sl. no	Functionalization	Drug	Highlights	References
1	TiO2@ZnO–GO	Curcumin (CUR)	-Colon targeted, pH-sensitive nanocarrier -Drug release activity was pH-dependent, due to the presence of carboxylic groups in GO -Cell viability – below 50%—anti-cancerous effect exhibited	[101]
2	Chitosan/poly(lactic acid)/GO/TiO2	Doxorubicin (DOX)	- Nanofibrous scaffolds of thickness between 30 and 50 μm -Higher sustained release rate of DOX from scaffolds in an incubation period of 2 weeks at pH 5.3 - Targeted delivery to cancer cells in the lung, in the presence of an external field	[102]
3	Folic Acid-Fe3O4@nGO	Doxorubicin (DOX)	- 50 nm-sized core–shell nanoparticles -Applicable for MR imaging due to increased magnetization saturation value -Presence of carboxyl groups due to GO coating	[103]
4	GO/Polyethylene glycol (PEG)	Doxorubicin (DOX)	-First report of GO-PEG4000 hybrid nanocarrier -Increased biodispersibility -L.E = 81%	[104]
5	GO/Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)	Gefitinib (GEF) and Quercetin (QSR)	-The release profile of dual drug system was better than single drug systems -Higher cytotoxicity to PA-1 cancer cells (in the ovary), when compared to the individual drugs loaded onto the nanocomposite	[105]
6	Cobalt NPs (CoNPS)/GO/PEG	Doxorubicin (DOX)	-L.E = 196.3%, when DOX: CoNPs weight proportion is 2:1 -Capable of targeted drug delivery	[106]
7	GOMNP*/Polyethyleneglycol-bis-amin (PEGA)	Methotrexate (MTX)	-Lower toxicity against normal cell lines compared to free MTX -Doesn’t indicate any haemagglutination of RBCs even at high concentrations -100% release rate of the drug in 60 h, indicated more drug release in acidic conditions -Biocompatible	[107]
8	Sulfonated GO (GS)/ Chitosan (CHT)	Tetracycline Hydrochloride (TCH)	-CHT-GS exhibits continued delivery of drugs -Enhanced mechanical power when compared to CHT-GO -CHT-GO and CHT-GS show better biocompatibility	[108]
9	rGO/Chitosan (CS)	Doxorubicin (DOX)	-High biocompatibility -EE (%) = 65% -Controlled release of drug, i.e., 50% in 48 h	[109]
10	GO/ Polyethylenimine (PEI) /Au-Fe3O4	Doxorubicin (DOX) and 7-Ethyl-10-Hydroxy-Camptothecin (SN38)	- Superparamagnetic nanocomposite -Adsorption of SN38 is less than that of DOX - The release rate of DOX from nanocomposite (21% in pH 4.5 after 48 h) is better than the release rate of SN38 (15% in pH 4.5 after 48 h)	[110]
11	Fullerene (C60F)/ Folic acid (FA)/ chitosan (CS) /GO	Ginkgo Biloba Leaves polyprenol (GBP)	-GBP:C60F:FA:CS:GO = 100:5:4:200:200 is optimal ratio -Sustained drug release and high cytotoxicity -Low levels of genotoxicity at small concentrations of C60F	[111]
12	NanoGO@DOX-PEG	Doxorubicin (DOX)	-3 different molecular weights of PEG used (2 K,5 K, and 20 K) -Better cytotoxicity and increased acceptance of drugs by the cells when irradiated by NIR laser -Photothermal therapy of NGO@DOX-PEG5K was reported to be the best -pH-sensitive drug release, initiated by NIR radiation	[112]
13	Magnetic GO–NH2–PEG	Doxorubicin (DOX)	-non-toxic with more than 80% cellular uptake -convincing optical absorbance in the visible-NIR region	[113]
14	GO/PEG	Cephalexin (CEF)	-EE (%) = 69% -A noteworthy development in the persistent release of the drug, which can stand up to 96 h -Loading capacity—19% -Minimal adverse effects of CEF due to lower doses of the drug	[114]
15	PEG/GO/Fe3O4	Melittin (MEL)	-L.E = 370 µg/mg -numerous interactions between MEL and PEG-GO-Fe3O4 -So, the continuous and persistent release of MEL, and protected from denaturation and degradation of MEL -Higher cytotoxicity on HeLa cells -Nontoxic and biocompatible	[115]
16	GO/Chitosan (CH)/D-mannose (Ma)	Ulvan lactua	-EE (%) = 88% -A pH-dependent release behavior -Higher cytotoxicity effect against glioblastoma cells	[116]
17	GO/chitosan (CS)	Caffeic acid (CA)	- High drug loading - Release rate that did not reach zero even after 7 days	[117]

*GOMNP graphene oxide magnetic nanoparticle, L.E. loading efficiency, EE encapsulation efficiency