Easy Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Carbon Dots Using the One-Pot Green Method for Cancer Therapy

Abstract

In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) were used for the synthesis of novel targeted nanocarrier carbon dots (CDC-H) with photo-luminescence using a one-step hydrothermal method. Doxorubicin (DOX), a common chemotherapeutic agent, was loaded with the CDC-H through electrostatic interactions to form DOX–CDC-H complexes as a targeted antitumor drug delivery system. The synthesized CDC-H show a particle size of approximately 6 nm and a high fluorescence quantum yield of 11.64%. The physical and chemical character properties of CDC-H and DOX–CDC-H complexes were investigated using various techniques. The results show that CDC-H have stable luminescent properties and exhibit excellent water solubility. The in vitro release study showed that DOX–CDC-H exhibited pH-dependent release for 24 h. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to investigate the potential of CDC-H for cell imaging and the cellular uptake of DOX–CDC-H in different cells (NIH-3T3 and 4T1 cells), and the results confirmed the target cell imaging and cellular uptake of DOX–CDC-H by specifically binding the CD44 receptors on the surface of tumor cells. The r MTT results suggest that the DOX–CDC-H complex may induce apoptosis in 4T1 cells, reducing the cytotoxicity of free DOX-induced apoptosis. In vivo antitumor experiments of DOX–CDC-H exhibited enhanced tumor cancer therapy. CDC-H have potential applications in bioimaging and antitumor drug delivery.

Keywords

• hyaluronic acid
• carboxymethyl chitosan
• carbon dots
• bio-imaging
• antitumor drug delivery