β-Cyclodextrin-grafted on multiwalled carbon nanotubes as versatile nanoplatform for entrapment of guanine-based drugs

• Synthesis of β-cyclodextrin covalently grafted on multiwalled carbon nanotubes.
• Drug binding abilities of nanoplatform towards the guanine and Acyclovir.
• Nanoplatform sustaining drug release and promoting antiviral effect.

The design of β-cyclodextrin/multiwalled carbon nanotubes hybrid (β-CD-MWCNT) as nanoplatform for the entrapment and delivery of guanine based drugs is described here. The functionalized carbon nanomaterials have been characterized by XPS spectroscopy, electron microscopy (FEG-SEM and TEM), AFM, TGA, and FT-IR to achieve insights on structure, morphology and chemical composition. The drug binding abilities of nanocarrier towards the guanine (G) and Acyclovir (Acy) were proved by UV–vis and DSC experiments. Host–guest equilibrium association constants and drug loading have been evaluated for G/β-CD-MWCNT and Acy/β-CD-MWCNT complexes. The release studies showed a sustained delivery of Acy without initial burst effect confirming a strong interaction of drug with the nanoplatform sites. The preliminary antiviral data indicated that the Acyclovir loaded into the β-CD-MWCNT platform interferes with HSV-1 replication and the antireplicative effect was higher than the free drug.

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