article · ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Researchers developed a one-pot microwave-assisted pyrolysis method to create magnetofluorescent carbon quantum dots (MFCQDs) from waste crab shells and transition-metal ions (Gd3+, Mn2+, Eu3+). The chitin in crab shells served as both a carbon source and a chelating ligand. Gd@CQDs showed promise as a T1 contrast agent for magnetic resonance imaging, while Mn@CQDs and Eu@CQDs were potential T2 contrast agents. When conjugated with folic acid, Gd@CQDs enabled targeted imaging of specific cancer cells. These nanocomposites, loaded with doxorubicin, demonstrated increased toxicity towards cancer cells without significant general toxicity, suggesting their potential as diagnostic probes or theranostic agents.
This research offers a sustainable approach to creating advanced nanomaterials from waste products. These materials show promise for improving medical diagnostics through enhanced imaging and for developing more effective, targeted cancer therapies, potentially reducing side effects and improving patient outcomes.
The developed magnetofluorescent carbon quantum dots show potential for use as contrast agents in dual-modality bioimaging and for targeted drug delivery, particularly in cancer therapy. They could be applied in medical diagnostics and pharmaceutical development. This is early-stage research demonstrating proof-of-concept for novel theranostic agents.
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We propose a one-pot microwave-assisted pyrolysis method for fabrication of magnetofluorescent carbon quantum dots (MFCQDs), using a combination of waste crab shell and three different transition-metal ions, Gd 3+, Mn 2+, and Eu 3+, referred to as Gd@CQDs, Mn@CQDs, and Eu@CQDs, respectively. Chitin from waste crab shell acted not only as a carbon source but also as a chelating ligand to form complexes with transition-metal ions. Gd@CQDs exhibited a high r 1 relaxivity of 4.78 mM –1 ·s –1 and a low r 2 / r 1 ratio of 1.33, suggesting that they show excellent potential as a T 1 contrast agent. Mn@CQDs and Eu@CQDs showed high r 2 relaxivity values of 140.7 and 28.32 mM –1 ·s –1, respectively, suggesting their potential for use as T 2 contrast agents. Further conjugation of Gd@CQDs with folic acid (FA) enabled specific targeting to folate receptor-positive HeLa cells, as confirmed via in vitro magnetic resonance and fluorescence imaging. Doxorubicin (DOX) was selected as a model drug for conjugation with FA-Gd@CQDs. The as-prepared nanocomposites showed significantly higher cytotoxicity toward HeLa cells than free DOX. No apparent cytotoxicity was observed in vivo (zebrafish embryos) or in vitro (cell viability), suggesting that MFCQDs show potential for development as diagnostic probes or theranostic agents.
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DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b01599
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