Folate conjugated trimethyl chitosan/graphene oxide nanocomplexes as potential carriers for drug and gene delivery

Folate conjugated trimethyl chitosan (FTMC)/graphene oxide (GO) nanocomplexes (FG NCs) prepared via electrostatic self-assembly were here developed as a targeted delivery vehicle for both doxorubicin (DOX) and plasmid DNA (pDNA). FG NCs exhibited the diameter of 112.0 nm and the thickness of 3.038 nm. Negligible cytotoxicity of FG NCs was observed in Hela and A549 cells. The higher uptake level in Hela cells with folate-receptor proved the targeting ability of FG NCs. Both DOX and pDNA could be loaded into FG NCs, wherein the loading capacity of DOX reached 30.9% and migration of pDNA could be completely retarded. Therefore, FG NCs could be served as a promising candidate for targeted delivery of both anticancer drugs and genes.