β-Cyclodextrin-Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Nanoplatform for Chemotherapeutic Delivery of Doxorubicin and Dacarbazine in Melanoma

A β-cyclodextrin-functionalized reduced graphene oxide nanoplatform (rGO-E-βCD) was developed as a drug carrier for melanoma chemotherapy. The material was prepared by esterification of graphene oxide with β-cyclodextrin followed by reduction with ascorbic acid. Characterization confirmed successful functionalization and reduction, with 18% β-cyclodextrin anchored to the surface. Doxorubicin loading reached 972 μg mg⁻¹ with 93.9% efficiency, while preliminary dacarbazine loading reached 109 μg mg⁻¹ with 11.1% efficiency. In SK-MEL-28 melanoma cells, the unloaded nanoplatform was well tolerated up to 28 μg mL⁻¹ after 48 h. Doxorubicin-loaded rGO-E-βCD showed delayed cytotoxicity, with a clear reduction in cell viability after 48 h, consistent with its sustained and pH-responsive drug release. Dacarbazine loading and biological assays are currently being optimized to further evaluate the platform’s potential for melanoma treatment.