A Multifunctional Nanoplatform Based on Graphene Quantum Dots‐Cobalt Ferrite for Monitoring of Drug Delivery and Fluorescence/Magnetic Resonance Bimodal Cellular Imaging

Abstract

A novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs)‐cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) is demonstrated for monitoring of the drug delivery and fluorescence/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) bimodal cellular imaging. The nanoplatform is fabricated by assembling the GQDs onto the surface of magnetic CoFe2O4@SiO2 (CFO@SiO2) via covalent binding, subsequently conjugated with folic acid (FA). Then anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded on the GQD‐CFO/SiO2/FA with a capacity of 65.4 wt%. The DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA can be used for monitoring of drug release by detecting the Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) signals, with the GQDs serve as the drug carrier and the donor in FRET model. Herein, the monitoring of drug delivery is explored via the corresponding changes in FRET. The reduced brightness of T2‐weighted MRI images indicates the potential of GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA to be applied as the negative contrast agent. The fluorescence/MRI bimodal cellular imaging can facilitate the transportation of drug delivery. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity assay confirms the desirable biocompatibility of GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA nanoplatform, and DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA exhibits notable cytotoxicity to HeLa cells. These results demonstrate the significantly increased therapeutic efficiency of this nanoplatform. Thus, the novel GQD‐CFO@SiO2/FA can be a promising multifunctional nanoplatform with monitoring of drug delivery and fluorescence/MRI bimodal cellular imaging.

Keywords

• bimodal cellular imaging
• cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4)
• controlled drug delivery
• Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET)
• graphene quantum dots (GQDs)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)