Decoration of graphene oxide nanosheets with carboxymethylcellulose hydrogel, silk fibroin and magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical and hyperthermia applications

Abstract

In this study, an efficient nanobiocomposite based on graphene oxide (GO), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel, silk fibroin (SF), and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles was synthesized. For this purpose and in order to provide a suitable scaffold for the nanobiocomposite, GO was functionalized with a CMC hydrogel via covalent bonding. In the next step, SF was added to the synthesized structure to increase biocompatibility and biodegradability. Fe₃O₄ was added into the structure by an in situ process and the GO–CMC hydrogel/SF/Fe₃O₄ nanobiocomposite was synthesized. The synthesized structure was evaluated in terms of toxicity and hemocompatibility and finally, it was used in the hyperthermia technique. This nanocomposite did not destroy healthy HEK293T cells after 48 h and 72 h, while it did annihilate BT549 cancer cells. The GO–CMC hydrogel/SF/Fe₃O₄ nanobiocomposite has EC50 values of 0.01466 and 0.1415 against HEK293T normal cells and BT549 cancer cells, respectively (after 72 h). The nanocomposite has good potential in hyperthermia applications and at a concentration and a frequency of 1 mg mL⁻¹ and 400 kHz it has a SAR of 67.7 W g⁻¹.