Enhanced Apoptosis by Functionalized Highly Reduced Graphene Oxide and Gold Nanocomposites in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

[Image: see text] Graphene nanocomposites have gained significant interest in a variety of biological applications due to their unique properties. Herein, we have studied the apoptosis-inducing ability and anticancer properties of functionalized highly reduced graphene oxide (HRG) and gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)-based nanocomposites (AP-HRG-Au). Samples were prepared under facile conditions via simple stirring and ultrasonication. All the samples were tested for their anticancer properties against different human cancer cell lines including lung (A549), liver (HepG2), and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells using doxorubicin as a positive control. In order to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of the sample, HRG was functionalized with 1-aminopyrene (1-AP) as a stabilizing ligand. The ligand also facilitated the homogeneous growth of Au NPs on the surface of HRG by offering chemically specific binding sites. The synthesis of nanocomposites and the surface functionalization of HRG were confirmed by UV–Vis, powder X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared nanocomposites were established by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Because of the functionalization, the AP-HRG-Au nanocomposite exhibited enhanced physical stability and high dispersibility. A comparative anticancer study of pristine HRG, nonfunctionalized HRG-Au, and 1-AP-functionalized AP-HRG-Au nanocomposites revealed the enhanced apoptosis ability of functionalized nanocomposites compared to the nonfunctionalized sample, whereas the pristine HRG did not show any anticancer ability against all tested cell lines. Both HRG-Au and AP-HRG-Au have induced a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability in all tested cell lines after 48 h of exposure, with a significantly higher response in MCF-7 cells compared to the remaining cells. Therefore, MCF-7 cells were selected to perform detailed investigations using apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, and reactive oxygen species measurements. These results suggest that AP-HRG-Au induces enhanced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells.