Construction of a novel fluorinated graphene-based magnetic nanocomposite and its application in cancer photo-chemotherapy

Novel FGO/Fe3O4 nanocomposite was firstly prepared by constructing magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles on water-soluble fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO), which shows excellent biocompatibility, photothermal efficiency in near infrared region and drug loading capacity. Cell experiment indicates the nanocomposite is a valuable candidate for cancer photo-chemotherapy. [Display omitted] •A novel FGO/Fe3O4 composite was successfully constructed for the first time.•The sample showed enhanced photothermal conversion and drug loading capacity.•The sample exhibited excellent cancer photo-chemotherapy performance. Fluorinated graphene (FG) inherits the excellent performance of graphene and fluorinated carbon, and has many outstanding properties in biological fields. However, the hydrophobic nature and harsh preparation conditions greatly limit its further functionalization and practical applications. Herein, a novel strategy is reported to prepare water-soluble fluorinated graphene oxide (FGO), and this method also facilitates us for the first time to decorate FGO with magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The constructed novel (FGO/Fe3O4) nanocomposite not only shows good biocompatibility even at high concentration, but exhibits excellent photothermal efficiency in near infrared region. Moreover, the improved dispersibility and high surface area also enable the nanocomposite to have drug loading capacity, and cell experiment study indicates the nanocomposite is a valuable candidate for cancer photo-chemotherapy.