Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots Embedded in Carbon Nanosheets for Near-Infrared Imaging-Guided Combined Photo-Chemotherapy.
Hongji LiuXiaotong LvJunchao QianHong LiYong QianXingyu WangXiangfu MengWenchu LinHui WangPublished in: ACS nano (2020)
Rational design of metal-free multifunctional therapeutic reagents offers great opportunities for cancer treatment in the clinic. Here, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) quantum dots embedded in carbon nanosheets (CNQD-CN) are in situ prepared via a one-pot hydrothermal approach with formamide as carbon and nitrogen source. The CNQD-CN not only serves as an excellent near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent marker but also acts as a pH-responsive nanocarrier. Moreover, the CNQD-CN possesses both light-to-heat conversion and singlet oxygen generation capabilities under a single NIR excitation wavelength. Further investigations show that systemic delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) using the multifunctional CNQD-CN nanocarrier under NIR irradiation was highly effective to cause cancer cell apoptosis in vitro and inhibit tumor growth in vivo. CNQD-CN represents a multifunctional therapeutic platform for synchronous cancer imaging and treatment through the synergistic effect of phototherapy and chemotherapy.
Keyphrases
- quantum dots
- drug delivery
- lymph node metastasis
- papillary thyroid
- cancer therapy
- sensitive detection
- drug release
- energy transfer
- visible light
- photodynamic therapy
- high resolution
- reduced graphene oxide
- metal organic framework
- squamous cell
- squamous cell carcinoma
- locally advanced
- cell proliferation
- young adults
- gold nanoparticles
- high throughput
- risk assessment