Silibinin-conjugated graphene nanoplatform: Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation

Graphene and its multifunctional derivatives may offer passive targeting toward tumor sites and could be designed as drug delivery systems. Surface modifications of graphene materials convey specific biological activity to themselves and improve their biocompatibility. Herein we report the conjugation of Silibinin, a flavonoid employed mainly as hepatoprotective and anticancer agent, to a graphene modified nanoplatform. The cytotoxicity of the new platform has been evaluated on human mesenchymal stem cells and the anticancer effects have been studied on a human osteosarcoma cell line. Our graphene nanoplatform did not show any cytotoxicity even at high concentration (1000 microg/ml) and Silibinin grafted onto graphene maintained its antiproliferative activity.