Folic acid-conjugated graphene oxide for cancer targeted chemo-photothermal therapy

Nanographene oxide (NGO), a new type of nanomaterial for anticancer drugs delivery and near-infrared (NIR)-mediated photothermal ablation of tumors, has been used in the combination of photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. Herein, targeted chemo-photothermal therapy based on polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) functionalized NGO was achieved. Folic acid (FA), a common target molecule to cancer cells, was conjugated to NGO via covalent amide bond. The obtained FA–NGO–PVP was proved to be an ideal pH-responsive nanocarrier for delivery of an anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) with the loading ratio more than 100%. In vitro experiments were then performed with the combination of chemotherapy and NIR photothermal therapy. The results demonstrated that the targeted chemo-photothermal therapy could specifically deliver drug and heat to tumor sites and showed excellent efficacy of anticancer therapy. Thus, FA–NGO–PVP could be used as a novel nanomaterial for selective chemo-photothermal therapy.

► We investigated functionalized NGO for cancer targeted chemo-photothermal therapy.
► We developed FA–NGO–PVP loading with doxorubicine (DOX).
► FA–NGO–PVP was proved to be an ideal pH-responsive nanocarrier.
► We investigated the cell death induced by FA–NGO–PVP/DOX with 808 nm laser in vitro.
► FA–NGO–PVP/DOX under laser irradiation shown an excellent anticancer efficacy.