Sonochemical Formation of Copper/Iron‐Modified Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Ketorolac Delivery

Abstract

A feasible sonochemical approach is described for the preparation of copper/iron-modified graphene oxide nanocomposites through ultrasonication (20 kHz, 18 W cm^-2 ) of an aqueous solution containing copper and iron ion precursors. Unique copper-, copper/iron- and iron-modified graphene oxide nanocomposites have a submicron size that is smaller than that of pristine GO and a higher surface area enriched with Cu₂ O, CuO, and Fe₂ O₃ of multiform phases (α-, β-, ϵ-, or γ), FeO(OH), and sulfur- or carbon-containing compounds. These nanocomposites are sonochemically intercalated with the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketorolac, which results in the formation of nanoscale carriers. Ketorolac monotonically disintegrates from these nanoscale carriers in aqueous solution upon adjustment of the pH from 1 to 8. The disintegration of ketorolac proceeds at a slower rate from the copper/iron-modified graphene oxide at increased pH, but at a faster rate from the iron-modified graphene oxide under acidic conditions.