Graphene coating holds promise for delivery of chemotherapy

The research, published in IOP Publishing’s journal 2D Materials, suggests that placing graphene on the internal surfaces of intravenous catheters will improve the efficacy of treatments, and reduce the chances of catheters breaking.

The study shows that damaging interactions can occur between the most commonly used chemotherapy drug, 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu), and silver, which is one of the most widely used coating materials in medical applications.

Consequently, the researchers believe the drug may not deliver the desired therapeutic effect in patients, and that chemotherapy treatment may be compromised.

Furthermore, the research indicates that a by-product of the reaction between 5-Fu and silver is hydrogen fluoride (HF), a strong acid. This, said the team, raises concerns that silver and HF may be injected into the patient along with the treatment.

In a statement, co-author of the study Justin Wells, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said: “As far as we know, nobody has ever looked at the chemical reaction between chemotherapy drugs and the materials they routinely come into contact with, such as catheters and needles and their coatings. It is just assumed that the drugs are delivered into the body intact.