New generation of chitosan-encapsulated ZnO quantum dots loaded with drug: synthesis, characterization and in vitro drug delivery response.
The objective of the study is to describe a new approach of combining quantum dots technology with anti-cancer drug therapy. In this regard, we communicate the preliminary research on the synthesis of blue-light emitting ZnO quantum dots (QDs) combined with biodegradable chitosan (N-acetylglucosamine) for tumor-targeted drug delivery. The results presented here indicate that the proposed new generation of QDs loaded with anti-cancer agents and encapsulated with biocompatible polymer represent a potential platform to deliver tumor-targeted drugs and document the delivery process, if desired. Non-toxic water-dispersed ZnO QDs with long-term fluorescence stability were synthesized by a chemical hydrolysis method, encapsulated with chitosan and loaded with anti-cancer drug. Chitosan enhanced the stability of the QDs because of the hydrophilicity and cationic charge of chitosan. The study points toward the application of water-dispersed ZnO QDs with long-term fluorescence stability for design of new drug release carrier.
Yuan
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Center for Structural and Functional Materials, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-4130, USA.
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D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D045663:Quantum Dots; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
D048271:Chitosan; D015034:Zinc Oxide