Carbon dots as a trackable drug delivery carrier for localized cancer therapy in vivo
File version
Author(s)
Shao, Dan
He, Xu
Ren, Zhongyuan
Ji, Wenyu
Shan, Chongxin
Qu, Songnan
Li, Jing
Chen, Li
Li, Qin
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) with a size smaller than 10 nm, excellent biocompatibility, and low to no cytotoxicity are considered as a rising star in nanomedicine. In this report, for the first time we demonstrate that green-emitting CDs with a carboxyl-rich surface can be employed as a trackable drug delivery agent for localized cancer treatment in a mouse model. The CDs are conjugated with the cancer drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), via non-covalent bonding, utilizing the native carboxyl groups on CDs and the amine moiety on DOX molecules. The pH difference between cancer and normal cells was successfully exploited as the triggering mechanism for DOX release. Our in vivo study demonstrated that the fluorescent CDs can serve as a targeted drug delivery system for localized therapy, and the stimuli-responsive non-covalent bonding between the nanodot carrier and the drug molecule is sufficiently stable in complex biological systems. Taken together, our work provides a strategy to promote the potential clinical application of CDs in cancer theranostics.
Journal Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry B
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
4
Issue
30
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Macromolecular and materials chemistry
Biomedical engineering
Biomedical engineering not elsewhere classified