A Multifunctional Nanoplatform Based on Graphene Quantum Dots‐Cobalt Ferrite for Monitoring of Drug Delivery and Fluorescence/Magnetic Resonance Bimodal Cellular Imaging

Abstract

A novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs)‐cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) is demonstrated for monitoring of the drug delivery and fluorescence/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) bimodal cellular imaging. The nanoplatform is fabricated by assembling the GQDs onto the surface of magnetic CoFe2O4@SiO2 (CFO@SiO2) via covalent binding, subsequently conjugated with folic acid (FA). Then anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded on the GQD‐CFO/SiO2/FA with a capacity of 65.4 wt%. The DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA can be used for monitoring of drug release by detecting the Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) signals, with the GQDs serve as the drug carrier and the donor in FRET model. Herein, the monitoring of drug delivery is explored via the corresponding changes in FRET. The reduced brightness of T2‐weighted MRI images indicates the potential of GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA to be applied as the negative contrast agent. The fluorescence/MRI bimodal cellular imaging can facilitate the transportation of drug delivery. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay confirms the desirable biocompatibility of GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA nanoplatform, and DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA exhibits notable cytotoxicity to HeLa cells. These results demonstrate the significantly increased therapeutic efficiency of this nanoplatform. Thus, the novel GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA can be a promising multifunctional nanoplatform with monitoring of drug delivery and fluorescence/MRI bimodal cellular imaging.

Chiral Graphene Quantum Dots Enhanced Drug Loading into Small Extracellular Vesicles

“…These desirable properties make it possible to design concise and multifunctional drug delivery and release monitoring systems. 62 We then analyzed the ability of sEVs-Dox to inhibit cancer cell proliferation in vitro. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) and cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) were treated with sEVs-Dox for 24 h, while cells without treatment, those treated with control sEVs, and D-Cys-GQDs mixed with free Dox are negative controls.…”

“…Meanwhile, d - Cys-GQDs (blue) were distributed mostly in the cytosol of cells, indicating the release of Dox from the d - Cys-GQDs/Dox complex, which hence does not require another drug release mechanism. These desirable properties make it possible to design concise and multifunctional drug delivery and release monitoring systems …”

Plasma‐Enabled Graphene Quantum Dot Hydrogels as Smart Anticancer Drug Nanocarriers

“…The FRET mechanism is evidenced by the huge spectral overlap between the absorption and emission spectra of the DOX and NGQDs (Figure 9c), respectively. As a result, a drug monitoring platform can be established using the FRET efficiency, [ 56 ] and the details can be seen in Section S6, Supporting Information. The FRET efficiency was enhanced as the P30C30 sample captured more DOX, while the FRET efficiency was gradually reduced during the release process (Figure 9d).…”

Recent advances in biomedical applications of carbon and graphene quantum dots: A review

“…Teng et al developed a nanoplatform from cobalt ferrite, silicon dioxide, and GQDs having multiple functions and loaded the nanoplatform with the drug doxorubicin and folic acid for targeting the tumor cells. MTT assay in HeLa cancer cell line treated with the drug‐loaded nanoplatform indicated significant cytotoxicity and effective therapy as depicted in Figure 5 (Teng et al, 2022).…”

“…GQD‐CoFe 2 O 4 nanocomposites as a multifarious system for the purpose of keeping track of the delivery of drugs along with Fluorescence/Magnetic resonance Bimodal cellular imaging. Copyright 2022@Willey VCH (Teng et al, 2022). …”