Preparation and characterization of PEGylated multiwall carbon nanotubes as covalently conjugated and non-covalent drug carrier: A comparative study.

In this study, PEGylated multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-based drug delivery system was developed. Ibuprofen as a model drug was loaded by physical and chemical method. The surface functionalization of nanotubes was carried out by enrichment of acylated groups. In order to synthesis PEGylated MWNTs, hydrophilic diamino-polyethylene glycol was covalently linked to the MWNTs surface via amidation reaction. Finally, ibuprofen was chemically and physically loaded on the PEGylated MWNTs. The resultants were characterized by FTIR, AFM, and DLS techniques. Cytotoxicity of PEGylated MWNTs were examined by MTT assay and the results revealed that PEG functionalized nanotubes did not show significant detrimental effects on the viability of L929 Cells. The percent of drug loading for chemically and physically drug payload carrier were determined to be 52.5% and 38%, respectively. The release of ibuprofen from covalently conjugated and non-covalent drug loaded PEGylated MWNTs at pH=7.4, and 5.3 were investigated, as well. From the results, it was found that chemically loaded MWNTs showed much sustained release behavior compared to the physically loaded one, especially at pH=5.3. The kinetic of drug release was also investigated. The results strongly suggest that the chemically conjugated PEGylated MWNTs could be used as controlled release system for various drugs.