In Situ Ratiometric Fluorescence Imaging for Tracking Targeted Delivery and Release of Anticancer Drug in Living Tumor Cells.

In situ ratiometric fluorescence tracking the delivery and release of antitumor drugs remains a challenge for targeted treatment of cancer. Herein, we fabricated aptamer-functionalized biomass quantum dots (BQD-Apt) as the nanocarriers and probes for tracking the delivery and release of doxorubicin (DOX) in living cells. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer between BQDs and DOX in the formed BQD-Apt-DOX complex was inhibited after releasing DOX, achieving in situ ratiometric fluorescence imaging of delivery and release of DOX. Because of the good cancer-targeting ability of aptamer and biocompatibility of BQDs, BQD-Apt-DOX holds great potential for improving the efficiency of cancer treatment.