Abstract
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) maintain the intrinsic layered structural motif of graphene but with smaller lateral size and abundant periphery carboxylic groups, and are more compatible with biological system, thus are promising nanomaterials for therapeutic applications. Here we show that GQDs have a superb ability in drug delivery and anti-cancer activity boost without any pre-modification due to their unique structural properties. They could efficiently deliver doxorubicin (DOX) to the nucleus through DOX/GQD conjugates, because the conjugates assume different cellular and nuclear internalization pathways comparing to free DOX. Also, the conjugates could enhance DNA cleavage activity of DOX markedly. This enhancement combining with efficient nuclear delivery improved cytotoxicity of DOX dramatically. Furthermore, the DOX/GQD conjugates could also increase the nuclear uptake and cytotoxicity of DOX to drug-resistant cancer cells indicating that the conjugates may be capable to increase chemotherapy efficacy of anti-cancer drugs that are suboptimal due to the drug resistance.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2852 |
| Journal | Scientific reports |
| Volume | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2013 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was carried out with financial support from the National Science foundation of China (Nos. 91123011, 90923041, and 31070742), the state key laboratory of bioreactor engineering (No. 2060204), 111 Project (No. B07023), the Shanghai Committee of Science and Technology (Nos. 11DZ2260600 and 12nm0503500), and National ‘‘973 program’’ (No. 20101CB933900) and ‘‘863 program’’ (No. 2012AA022603) of China.
