Complexation Nanoarchitectonics of Carbon Dots with Doxorubicin toward Photodynamic Anti-Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Carbon dots (Cdots) are known as photosensitizers in which the nitrogen doping is able to improve the oxygen-photosensitization performance and singlet-oxygen generation. Herein, the characteristics of nanoconjugates of nitrogen-doped Cdots and doxorubicin were compared with the property of nitrogen-doped Cdots alone. The investigation was performed for the evaluation of pH-dependent zeta potential, quantum yield, photosensitization efficiency and singlet-oxygen generation, besides spectroscopy (UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectra) and cytotoxicity on cancer model (HeLa cells). Encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, and drug release without and with light irradiation were also carried out. These investigations were always pursued under the comparison among different nitrogen amounts (ethylenediamine/citric acid = 1–5) in Cdots, and some characteristics strongly depended on nitrogen amounts in Cdots. For instance, surface charge, UV-visible absorbance, emission intensity, quantum yield, photosensitization efficiency and singlet-oxygen generation were most effective at ethylenediamine/citric acid = 4. Moreover, strong conjugation of DOX to Cdots via π-π stacking and electrostatic interactions resulted in a high carrier efficiency and an effective drug loading and release. The results suggested that nitrogen-doped Cdots can be considered promising candidates to be used in a combination therapy involving photodynamic and anticancer strategies under the mutual effect with DOX.

Glucose-derived carbon dots for targeted delivery of doxorubicin in cancer therapy

“…This phenomenon was reported in the previous literature and also in our previously reported research work. [55][56][57][58][59] Additionally, the morphology of the CDs-Dox-ADH conjugates was also confirmed through SEM analysis, and similar results were observed (Fig. 2d).…”

Carbon Dots from Tire Waste for the Photodegradation of Methyl Orange Dye, Antimicrobial Activity, and Molecular Docking Study

“…XRD pattern of the C‐dots is shown in Figure 2 as a weak noisy peak around 23°, which is common in C‐dots due to the graphitic structure of the nanomaterial. Although this peak corresponds to the (002) graphite lattice, [21] it was broad because of the very small size of Cdots. For the determination of surface composition, FTIR spectra, and XPS were recorded.…”

Porphyrin and doxorubicin mediated nanoarchitectonics of copper clusters: a bimodal theranostics for cancer diagnosis and treatment in vitro

“…11 Surface modifications that result in nanostructures are frequently employed in diagnostic applications by means of conjugation, which involves the incorporation of diagnostic and therapeutic moieties. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Nanoparticles labeled with diagnostics and therapeutic molecules are highly useful in cancer research. 21,22 Metal nanoclusters, especially gold and silver, are widely researched for cancer therapy due to their non-toxicity to normal cells and ultra-small size.…”

“…11 Surface modifications that result in nanostructures are frequently employed in diagnostic applications by means of conjugation, which involves the incorporation of diagnostic and therapeutic moieties. 12–20…”