Quality by design approach for the synthesis of graphene oxide nanosheets using full factorial design with enhanced delivery of Gefitinib nanocrystals

Designing drug delivery carriers is the most focused work for a material scientist. The formulator can screen the material starting from its properties to the performance of the material. The quality by design approach has simplified the path of selection of the right parameter for analyzing the process. The present investigation elaborates the use of a full factorial design model for understanding the interaction of oxidizing agents on the conversion of graphite to graphene oxide (GO). The most frequently assessable laboratory method is chemical oxidation, which is used for understanding optimum oxidation potential and nanosheet formation. The method utilizes 2 level assessments for screening reactant concentration of sulphuric acid and potassium permanganate on preprocessed graphite. In present investigation, one categorical factor is used to understand the effect of precursor size on the final product. The statistical model provides optimum oxidation conditions, using particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), and I_D/I_G ratio with a 95% confidence interval (p-value less than 0.05). The optimized synthesis procedure provides the least particle size of GO nanosheet of about 220.7 nm with PDI 0.289 and I_D/I_G ratio of 0.98. Furthermore, pulse mode ultrasonication converts Gefitinib (GF) into nanocrystals and is deposited within intricates of GO nanosheets (nGOGF). The GO and nGOGF were preliminarily characterized using optical and vibrational spectroscopy. The hydrodynamic diameter was found to be slightly increased to 237.5 nm with decreasing surface charge (−33.64 mV) after fabrication. The x-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) study reveals successful grafting of oxygen-containing functional groups on GO nanosheets with peak positions observed at 284–288 eV. The Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) observation supports the wrinkled structure of GO nanosheets synthesis, along with encapsulation of GF nanocrystals. The nGOGF retard the release of GF for a prolonged period of time and the rate of dissolution was increased by fold compared to pure GF. (paper)