Open AccessA Multifunctional Nanoplatform Based on Graphene Quantum Dots‐Cobalt Ferrite for Monitoring of Drug Delivery and Fluorescence/Magnetic Resonance Bimodal Cellular Imaging
Author(s) -
Teng Yun,
Yuan Shuai,
Shi Jue,
Pong Philip W. T.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced nanobiomed research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-9307
DOI - 10.1002/anbr.202200044
Subject(s) - förster resonance energy transfer , drug delivery , quantum dot , graphene , fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy , graphene quantum dot , biocompatibility , fluorescence , nanotechnology , materials science , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
A novel multifunctional nanoplatform based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs)‐cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) 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 CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 (CFO@SiO 2 ) via covalent binding, subsequently conjugated with folic acid (FA). Then anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded on the GQD‐CFO/SiO 2 /FA with a capacity of 65.4 wt%. The DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO 2 /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 T 2 ‐weighted MRI images indicates the potential of GQD‐CFO@SiO 2 /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@SiO 2 /FA nanoplatform, and DOX/GQD‐CFO@SiO 2 /FA exhibits notable cytotoxicity to HeLa cells. These results demonstrate the significantly increased therapeutic efficiency of this nanoplatform. Thus, the novel GQD‐CFO@SiO 2 /FA can be a promising multifunctional nanoplatform with monitoring of drug delivery and fluorescence/MRI bimodal cellular imaging.