Effect of Injection Routes on the Biodistribution, Clearance, and Tumor Uptake of Carbon Dots

Abstract

The emergence of photoluminescent carbon-based nanomaterials has shown exciting potential in the development of benign nanoprobes. However, the in vivo kinetic behaviors of these particles that are necessary for clinical translation are poorly understood to date. In this study, fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) were synthesized and the effect of three injection routes on their fate in vivo was explored by using both near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging techniques. We found that C-dots are efficiently and rapidly excreted from the body after all three injection routes. The clearance rate of C-dots is ranked as: intravenous > intramuscular > subcutaneous. The particles had relatively low retention in the reticuloendothelial system (RES) and showed high tumor-to-background contrast. Furthermore, different injection routes also resulted in different blood clearance patterns and tumor uptakes of C-dots. These results satisfy the need for clinical translation and should promote efforts to further investigate the possibility of using carbon-based nanoprobes in a clinical setting. More broadly, we provide a testing blueprint for in vivo behavior of nanoplatforms under various injection routes, an important step forward towards safety and efficacy analysis of nanoparticles.

Protein nanocages that penetrate airway mucus and tumor tissue

“…HDs of FTn and disassembled FTn were analyzed by size exclusion chromatography equipped with a Superose 6 column following previous reports (48,49). Briefly, the protein standards with known HDs (Bio-Rad), including M1 (thyroglobulin: 669 kDa, 18.8 nm HD), M2 (γ-globulin: 158 kDa, 11.9 nm HD), M3 (ovalbumin: 44 kDa, 6.13 nm HD), M4 (myoglobin: 17 kDa, 3.83 nm HD), and M5 (vitamin B 12 : 1.35 kDa, 1.48 nm HD), were analyzed using gel-filtration chromatography (GFC), and subsequently a standard curve of HD vs. retention time was established.…”

Photoluminescent and superparamagnetic reduced graphene oxide–iron oxide quantum dots for dual-modality imaging, drug delivery and photothermal therapy

“…These results indicate that a drug can be bonded to the surface of MGQDs and then be gradually released from the MGQDs into the body. It has been previously shown in the literature that similar nanoparticles like carbon QDs [28], GO [96] and IO [6] can be extracted from the blood and collect in the spleen/bladder to be excreted from the body through urine. There is a possibility of using the MGQDs for cancer photothermal therapy, where the MGQDs absorb NIR light and convert it to heat that can be used to kill cancer cells locally [97].…”

“…Carbon QDs can be excreted rapidly from the body after being administered through intravenous, intramuscular or subcutaneous injections [28].…”

Multiple cues on the physiochemical, mesenchymal, and intracellular trafficking interactions with nanocarriers to maximize tumor target efficiency

“…25 Biodistribution of carbon dots by IV injection recorded a fast clearance rate, compared with other injection routes (eg, intramuscular and subcutaneous).…”