The Synthesis and Use of

Gelatin Functionalized

Graphene Oxide for

Simultaneous Chemical and

Photothermal Cancer Therapy

Guy Blanc, Aaron Lucander, Praruj Pant

Research Purpose

To determine the effectiveness of

functionalized graphene oxide

nanocarriers in simultaneous chemical

and photothermal cancer therapy.

Goals

• To synthesize gelatin-functionalized

graphene oxide (gelatin-GO).

• To test the efficiency of gelatin-GO in

photothermal therapy.

• To test the efficacy of gelatin-GO as a

drug delivery agent.

Background• Chemotherapy, fighting cancer using drugs, and photothermal therapy,

fighting cancer using heat, have been used simultaneously to treat

tumors. This is very effective because the heat makes cancer cells more

susceptible to drugs; however, with current methods, the drugs released

and heat are not concentrated at the same points.

• Prior research shows that

o Because of its large surface areas and photothermal capabilities,

graphene oxide has great potential in chemotherapy and

photothermal therapy.

o Gelatin-functionalized graphene nanosheets are effective

nanocarriers because of their high drug loading capacity and

biocompatibility.

Graphite Oxide Synthesis

Method● We preoxidized graphite flakes by mixing graphite

flakes, K2S2O8, and P2O5 in sulfuric acid. We then

filtered out the graphite flakes and dried them in an

oven overnight.

● We then placed the preoxidized flakes in KMnO4 and

H2SO4, stirred, and added H2O2. When the H2O2 was

added, the mixture turned bright yellow, indicating

that graphite oxide had been successfully synthesized

(demonstrated in prior literature)

● We then sonicated and centrifuged the graphite oxide

to form graphene oxide.

● Gelatin was added to water at 90oC to form an

aqueous gelatin solution and then graphene oxide was

added. The solution was stirred overnight.

● The resulting mixture was filtered by repeatedly

centrifuging and washing until concentrated gelatin-

GO was left.

Gelatin-GO Synthesis Method

Photothermal Data Collection● Water and gelatin-GO were placed

in separate vials and irradiated

with a low-voltage 808 nm laser

for the same time. The change in

temperature of each sample was

recorded.

● The procedure was repeated 3

times for each sample type, and

the average of these trials is shown

in the graph to the right.

Photothermal Data Results

The Gelatin-GO sample

heated up over three

times as much as water

over an average of

three trials

Drug Delivery Data Collection

• The dye rhodamine, representing a drug, was

loaded onto Gelatin-GO particles

• The rhodamine-loaded gelatin-GO was placed

into water.

• The fluorescence of the sample was

measured at multiple time intervals to model

how well gelatin-GO released chemicals.

The gelatin-GO

solution loaded with

rhodamine released

rhodamine over

time, indicated by

the increased

fluorescence at

570nm

Drug Delivery Data Results

Discussion of Results

• The average temperature increase of the aqueous solutions

of gelatin-GO was 8.5oC while that of the deionized water

samples was only 2.8oC.

• We need only increase the overall temperature of a sample

by a fraction of a degree Celsius to increase the

temperatures of the individual gelatin-GO particles enough

to fight the tumor cells.

• Our research shows that we could use an even less powerful

laser to sufficiently heat gelatin-GO particles for

photothermal therapy, reducing side effects.

• The rhodamine, representing a drug in our drug delivery

tests, fluoresces at 570 nm.

• After 24 hours, the water sample with rhodamine-loaded

gelatin-GO particles showed significant increase in

fluorescence at 570 nm

• Release of rhodamine by gelatin-GO shows that gelatin-GO

particles can be used to deliver drugs

Discussion of Results

Conclusion

What we have done:

• Successfully Synthesized gelatin-GO

• Affirmed that gelatin-GO will heat up under

808nm radiation, making it an effective for

photothermal therapy

• Affirmed that drugs loaded onto gelatin-GO will be

released in water (as modeled by rhodamine

release)

Synthesize polyethylene glycol- functionalized graphene

oxide (PEG-GO) and compare its release rate and

photothermal absorbance to those of gelatin-GO.

Future Research:

• Load actual cancer drugs onto gelatin-GO and PEG-GO.

• Quantitatively measure and control drug release rates

and GO particle heating for use in actual tumor

therapy

• Apply nanocarriers to in vivo cancer therapy.

Our Next Step

We would like to thank the NCSSM

Research in Chemistry instructor, Dr.

Myra Halpin

Acknowledgements

Questions?

1. An, J., Gou, Y., Yang, C., Hu, F., & Wang, C. (2013). Synthesis of a biocompatible gelatin functionalized graphene nanosheets

and its application for drug delivery. Materials Science and Engineering: C, 33(5), 2827–2837.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ms...

2. Falk, M. H., & Issels, R. D. (2001). Hyperthermia in oncology. Int J Hyperthermia, 17(1), 1-18

3. Kaddi, C. D., Phan, J. H., & Wang, M. D. (2013). Computational nanomedicine: modeling of nanoparticle-mediated

hyperthermal cancer therapy. Nanomedicine (Lond), 8(8), 1323-1333. doi: 10.2217/nnm.13.117

4. Liu, J., Cui, L., & Losic, D. (2013). Graphene and graphene oxide as new nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. Acta

Biomaterialia, 9(12), 9243–9257. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ac...

5. Van Der Zee, J. (2002). Heating the patient: a promising approach? Ann Oncol, 13(8), 1173-1184.

6. Yang, K., Wan, J., Zhang, S., Tian, B., Zhang, Y., & Liu, Z. (2012). The influence of surface chemistry and size of nanoscale

graphene oxide on photothermal therapy of cancer using ultra-low laser power. Biomaterials, 33(7), 2206–2214.

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

7. Zhang, W., Guo, Z., Huang, D., Liu, Z., Guo, X., & Zhong, H. (2011). Synergistic effect of chemo-photothermal therapy using

PEGylated graphene oxide. Biomaterials, 32(33), 8555–8561. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bi...

References