Carbon dots prepared from ginger exhibiting efficient inhibition of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Abstract

Fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-dots; 4.3 AE 0.8 nm) from fresh tender ginger juice provide high suppression of the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2), with low toxicity to normal mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A) and normal liver cells (FL83B). The inhibition is selective to HepG2 over other tested cancer cells, including human lung cancer cell line (A549), human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), and human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Western blot results reveal that the C-dots up-regulate the expression of p53 protein only in the HepG2 cell line. The 50% inhibiting concentration (IC 50 ) value of the C-dots on HepG2 cells is 0.35 mg mL À1 . Image cytometry results show significant uptake of C-dots by HepG2 cells that induce intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS, 18.2-fold increased), while other cells remain almost the same in ROS levels after treatment with C-dots (1.11 mg mL À1 ). The C-dots trigger the pro-apoptotic factor to promote HepG2 cell apoptosis. The C-dots effectively inhibit the growth of tumors in nude mice (104 AE 14 vs. 3.7 AE 0.2 mg with and without treatment within 14 days).

Green synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots from spices for in vitro imaging and tumour cell growth inhibition

“…In fact, very recently Pierrat et al claimed that the toxicity of C-dots is mainly determined by the synthesis protocol [30]. Also, it has been reported that some food-based C-dots show anticancer properties, which strongly relies on the starting material employed for the synthesis [31–32]. Keeping the aforementioned fascinating medicinal activities of selected spices in mind, highly fluorescent C-dots have been synthesized by a green one-pot hydrothermal route, using cinnamon, red chilli, turmeric and black pepper as starting materials.…”

Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots by Gastrointestinal Fluid Treatment of Mongolia Har Gabur

“…There are several kinds of raw materials for CDs, such as ginger, straw, coffee, egg, candle ash, and grapheme [11,12]. The CDs prepared have been found to have good inhibitory effects on the growth of and antioxidation of hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, breast cancer, and human cervical cancer [2,13].…”

“…For instance, the charcoal ash is a typical carbonized traditional Mongolian medicine [2]. As a matter of fact, the carbonized medicine is made up of carbon.…”

“…Based on the previous studies, CDs would cause no abnormality, damage, and toxicity to tissues, organs, and even genes. Furthermore, the unique optic and biological features of CD give it outstanding advantages and prominent future on the optic imaging, tumor diagnosis, and treatment [2,8,10]. There are several kinds of raw materials for CDs, such as ginger, straw, coffee, egg, candle ash, and grapheme [11,12].…”

Carbon Nanodots from Frying Oil as Catalyst for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Assisted Solar Light Irradiation

“…Currently, C-Dots becomes an attraction because it has a very large potential for application of photocatalysis, bioimaging and optoelectronic (Li et al, 2012). C-Dots can be produced simply through the process of hydrothermal with various types of sources of carbon such as citric acid, soy milk, orange juice, ginger, food waste, waste paper etc (Rahmayanti et al, 2015;Zhu et al, 2012;Sahu et al, 2012;Li et al, 2014;Park et al, 2014;Wei et al, 2014). The process of hydrothermal cause carbon chains suffered the polymerization processes and forming particle C-Dots.…”