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 Cu2O, CuO, and Fe2O3 of multiform phases (alpha-, beta-, epsilon-, or gamma), 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.