In the present study, a facile one-step hydrothermal treatment of coriander leaves for preparing carbon dots (CDs) has been reported. Optical and structural properties of the CDs have been extensively studied by UV-visible and fluorescence spectroscopic, microscopic (transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy) and X-ray diffraction techniques. Surface functionality and composition of the CDs have been illustrated by elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Quenching of the fluorescence of the CDs in the presence of metal ions is of prime significance, hence CDs have been used as a fluorescence probe for sensitive and selective detection of Fe(3+) ions. Eventually, biocompatibility and bioimaging aspects of CDs have been evaluated on lung normal (L-132) and cancer (A549) cell lines. Qualitative analysis of cellular uptake of CDs has been pursued through fluorescence microscopy, while quantitative analysis using a flow cytometer provided an insight into the concentration and cell-type dependent uptake of CDs. The article further investigates the antioxidant activity of CDs. Therefore, we have validated the practicality of CDs obtained from a herbal carbon source for versatile applications.

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The prevalence of surface functionalized carbon dots (CDs) with intriguing fluorescence properties has given a new dimension to the field of bioimaging and is perceived as a promising alternative to quantum dots (QDs).

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Ferritin is a ubiquitous iron storage protein responsible for maintaining the iron homeostasis in living organism and thereby protects the cell from oxidative damage. The ferritin protein cages have been used as a reaction vessel for the synthesis of various non-native metallic nanoparticles inside its core and also used as a nanocarrier for various applications. Lack of suitable non-viral carrier for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and imaging agents is the major problem in cancer therapy and diagnosis. The pH dependent reversible assembling and disassembling property of ferritin renders it as a suitable candidate for encapsulating a variety of anticancer drugs and imaging probes. Ferritins external surface is chemically and genetically modifiable which can serve as attachment site for tumor specific targeting peptides or moieties. Recent studies, further establishes ferritin as a multifunctional nanocarrier for targeted cancer diagnosis and therapy. Moreover, the biological origin of these protein cages makes it a biocompatible nanocarrier that stabilizes and protects the enclosed particles from the external environment without provoking any toxic or immunogenic responses. This review mainly focuses on the application of ferritin nanocages as a novel non-viral nanocarrier for cancer therapy and it also highlights various biomedical applications of ferritin nanocages.

Advanced nanomaterials integrating imaging and therapeutic modalities on a single platform offers a new horizon in current cancer treatment strategies. Recently, carbon dots (CQDs) have been successfully employed for bioimaging of cancer cells. In the present study, luminescent CQDs with anionic terminus and cationic acetylated G5 poly(amido amine) (G5-Ac85) dendrimers were combined via noncovalent interactions to form self-assembled fluorescent hybrids. The fluorescence of CQDs in hybrids is enhanced in the vicinity of primary amine groups of dendrimers, making them suitable as cellular imaging probes. Encapsulation of chemo-drug epirubicin (EPI) in the dendrimer interiors endowed the fluorescent hybrids with therapeutic potential. The in vitro release of an entrapped EPI drug from CQDs@EPI⊂G5-Ac85 hybrids was faster in an acidic environment than under physiological conditions. Herein, multifunctional CQDs@EPI⊂G5-Ac85 hybrids serve as a dual-emission delivery system, to track the intracellular distribution and cytotoxic effects of EPI drugs. Green emission properties of CQDs were used for fluorescence microscopic imaging and cellular uptake by flow cytometry. Cell cycle analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and up-regulation of apoptotic signaling genes unanimously demonstrated the apoptosis inducing ability of CQDs@EPI⊂G5-Ac85 hybrids in breast cancer (MCF-7) cells. Therefore, we have evaluated CQDs@EPI⊂G5-Ac85 hybrids as prospective candidates to achieve simultaneous imaging and drug delivery in cancer cells.

In this work niclosamide was encapsulated into albumin nanoparticles through a desolvation method to improve its scope of application in cancer therapy.