Biocompatible nucleus-targeted graphene quantum dots for selective killing of cancer cells via DNA damage

Lei Qi; Tonghe Pan; Liling Ou; Zhiqiang Ye; Chunlei Yu; Bijun Bao; Zixia Wu; Dayong Cao; Liming Dai

doi:10.1038/s42003-021-01713-1

Communications Biology (Feb 2021)

Biocompatible nucleus-targeted graphene quantum dots for selective killing of cancer cells via DNA damage

Lei Qi,
Tonghe Pan,
Liling Ou,
Zhiqiang Ye,
Chunlei Yu,
Bijun Bao,
Zixia Wu,
Dayong Cao,
Liming Dai

Affiliations

Lei Qi: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Tonghe Pan: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Liling Ou: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Zhiqiang Ye: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Chunlei Yu: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Bijun Bao: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Zixia Wu: State key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Science, Institute of Advanced Materials for Nano-Bio Applications, School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, School of Biomedical Engineering, Wenzhou Medical University
Dayong Cao: Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Qiqihar, Affiliated Qiqihar Hospital, Southern Medical University
Liming Dai: Australian Carbon Materials Centre (A-CMC), School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-021-01713-1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 4, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

Read online

Qi et al. develop nucleus targeting graphene quantum dots (GQDs) by modifying amine-functionalised GQDs with nucleus targeting TAT peptides. The resulting functionalised GQDs exhibit good biocompatibility, nucleus uptake, and cancer cell targeting. They can suppress growth of cancer cells by selectively inducing DNA damage.

Published in Communications Biology

ISSN: 2399-3642 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General)
Website: https://www.nature.com/commsbio/

About the journal