The effect of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide on the properties of ionic strength sensitive PEC film comprising protein/polysaccharides combined system

In the current study, sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO) at different amounts (0.0 %, 0.015%, 0.030%, 0.050 % w/v) was incorporated into the polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) which was produced by using protein/ polysaccharides combined system composed of gelatin (Gel)/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and hyaluronic acid (HA) not only to enhance mechanical and conductive properties but also to investigate the effect of sulfonyl groups on the ionic strength response of the produced PEC films. While FT-IR, SEM and zeta potential analyses were confirmed the character of produced samples, their mechanical and conductivity tests showed that the introduction of SRGO enhanced both mechanical performance and conductive feature of PEC films. Swelling and 5- fluorouracil (5-FU), a chemotherapeutic agent, release tests carried out in the solution with a varying ionic strength at a pH: 1.2 to simulate acidic stomach environment demonstrated that while pure PEC film has antipolyelectrolyte behavior, SRGO based PEC films exhibited polyelectrolyte character due to sulfonyl groups with an increasing ionic strength of medium. It could be emphasized from all these results that the produced SRGO based PEC films with enhanced mechanical and conductive properties could be utilized as an ionic strength sensitive drug carrier which ensures controlled and targeted release for cancer treatments.