Covalent and Noncovalent Loading of Doxorubicin by Folic Acid-Carbon Dot Nanoparticles for Cancer Theranostics

Abstract

With special properties such as excellent fluoresce features, low toxicity, good biocompatibility, permeability, and easy clearance from the body, carbon dot (CD)-based nanoparticles (NPs) have the potential to deliver drugs and use in vivo diagnostics through molecular imaging. In this work, folic acid-CD (FA-CD) NPs were prepared to deliver doxorubicin (Dox) covalently and noncovalently as cancer theranostics. FA was conjugated to the surface of CDs for targeting cancer cells with overexpressing folate receptors. CDs prepared with various amounts of precursors lead to their associated NPs with different photoluminescence properties and drug release profiles. The loading of Dox and its releasing data depends on the linkage of drug Dox to FA-CD and CD composition. All NPs were characterized by UV–vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The noncovalent FA-CD-Dox NPs were preferred with a simple preparation process, excellent photoluminescence, and in vitro drug release properties. The noncovalent FA-CD-Dox showed the best efficacy against MDA-MB-231 compared to the CD-Dox and covalent FA-CD-Dox.

Review of Carbon Dot-Based Drug Conjugates for Cancer Therapy

“…When compared to CD-DOX and covalent FA-CDs-DOX conjugates, the noncovalent FA-CDs-Dox demonstrated the greatest effectiveness against MDA-MB-231. In addition, the noncovalent FA-CDs-DOX conjugates released the DOX about 4-fold in acidic conditions compared to the neutral state, which can greatly minimize undesired cytotoxicity in normal cells …”

“…In addition, the noncovalent FA-CDs-DOX conjugates released the DOX about 4-fold in acidic conditions compared to the neutral state, which can greatly minimize undesired cytotoxicity in normal cells. 55 Ding et al established a simple and environmentally friendly hydrothermal process for producing DNA-based CDs (DNACDs) from Escherichia coli genomic DNA. DNACDs include several different chemical groups, including hydroxyl and amino groups, which were created during their synthesis.…”

Biodegradable porous polymeric drug as a drug delivery system: alleviation of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicityviapassive targeted release

“…Fc-Ma was obtained via the copolymerization of ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde and d -mannitol (Ma) in 1,2-dichlorobenzene with catalytic p -toluene sulfonic acid, which was further used as the carrier for the noncovalent loading of DOX through the formation of H-bonds, π–π conjugation, and porous adsorption. 35,36…”

“…† Fc-Ma was obtained via the copolymerization of ferrocenedicarboxaldehyde and D-mannitol (Ma) in 1,2-dichlorobenzene with catalytic p-toluene sulfonic acid, which was further used as the carrier for the noncovalent loading of DOX through the formation of H-bonds, p-p conjugation, and porous adsorption. 35,36 The successful preparation of the porous networks was concurrently veried by the absence of a characteristic vibration band of the aldehyde group in Fc at 1690 cm −1 , and the appearance of new absorption peaks ascribed to the tensional vibration of the cyclic acetal appeared at 1704 cm −1 (Fig. S2a †), corresponding to the acetal bonds.…”

Near‐Infrared Emission‐Cyanine 5.5 and Doxorubicin Loaded Magnetite Nanoparticles for Dual In Vivo Magnetic Resonance and Biodistribution Imaging

“…Doxorubicin (Dox), a cancer chemotherapy drug, has fluorescence properties and can be used to monitor in vitro tests. However, the intensity of fluorescence from Dox is not strong enough, and it normally requires stimulation at visible wavelengths of about 485 nm [16,17] . In addition, endogenous molecules such as hemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin strongly absorb light in this wavelength range, making it difficult to collect fluorescence spectra of Dox in in vivo trials [18,19] .…”