Covalent conjugation of graphene oxide with methotrexate and its antitumor activity

Here, we have functionalized graphene oxide with anticancer drug methotrexate through amide bonding. A kinetics of the drug release from graphene oxide in physiological solution – phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing different biocompatible polymers have been investigated. Dispersion of MTX-GO in poly sodium-4-styrene sulfonate and poly ethylene glycol resulted in increase of the release time. The material was characterized with transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, antineoplastic action against human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF7 of MTX-GO and empty graphene oxide was explored.