Nitrogen-doped carbon dots for doxorubicin-targeted delivery and two-photon cell imaging

Ronghui Li; Nana Shi; Kaiyue Sun; Mei Fang; Ziyan Zhang; Lina Geng; Jianjun Zhang

Arabian Journal of Chemistry (Sep 2023)

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots for doxorubicin-targeted delivery and two-photon cell imaging

Ronghui Li,
Nana Shi,
Kaiyue Sun,
Mei Fang,
Ziyan Zhang,
Lina Geng,
Jianjun Zhang

Affiliations

Ronghui Li: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
Nana Shi: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
Kaiyue Sun: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
Mei Fang: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
Ziyan Zhang: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
Lina Geng: College of Chemistry and Material Science, Hebei Key Laboratory of Organic Functional Molecules, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Corresponding authors.
Jianjun Zhang: Testing and Analysis Center, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 16, no. 9
p. 105067

Abstract

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Nitrogen (N) doped CDs (N-CDs) were prepared using citric acid and hexamethylenetetramine by a one-step hydrothermal method, characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Powder X-ray Diffractometer (PXRD), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (13C NMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectra. The doping mechanism and drug-loading characteristics of N-CDs were also studied. The results showed that N-CDs had both down- and up-conversion fluorescence properties and the average particle size was about 4.28 nm. N-CDs could be used as a drug carrier for doxorubicin (DOX) (N-CDs-DOX) via the formation of the NC bond, and the drug-loading rate of N-CDs-DOX was 35.88%. The N-CDs-DOX had pH-targeted properties and low cytotoxicity. In vitro release of N-CDs-DOX belonged to the Weibull model and Fick diffusion. The results showed that N-CDs could deliver DOX successfully, and collocate with DOX in the SH-SY5Y cells through two-photon imaging. The N-CDs-DOX system had sustained-release and pH-targeted properties. N-CDs were expected to deliver a type of drugs containing CO group and be used in cancer treatment.

Published in Arabian Journal of Chemistry

ISSN: 1878-5352 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/arabian-journal-of-chemistry/

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