title: Target delivery and cell imaging using hyaluronic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots.
abstract: This work demonstrates the way to achieve efficient and target specific delivery of a graphene quantum dot (GQD) using hyaluronic acid (HA) (GQD-HA) as a targeting agent. HA has been anchored to a GQD that accepts the fascinating adhesive properties of the catechol moiety, dopamine hydrochloride, conjugated to HA, which was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a particle size of ∼20 nm, and the fluorescence spectra revealed significant fluorescence intensity even after the anchoring of HA. The prepared GQD-HA was applied to CD44 receptor overexpressed tumor-bearing balb/c female mice, and the in vivo biodistribution investigation demonstrated more bright fluorescence from the tumor tissue. In vitro cellular imaging, via a confocal laser scanning microscope, exhibited strong fluorescence from CD44 overexpressed A549 cells. Both in vivo and in vitro results showed the effectiveness of using HA as targeting molecule. The loading and release kinetics of the hydrophobic drug doxorubicin from a GQD under mildly acidic conditions showed that a GQD can be considered as a novel drug carrier, while the nontoxic behavior from the MTT assay strongly supports the identification of GQD-HA as a biocompatible material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Green Bio Engineering, Korea National University of Transportation , Chungju 380-702, Republic of Korea.
authors.lastname: Abdullah-Al-Nahain
authors.forename: Jung-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Insik
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: In
authors.forename: Haeshin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kang Dae
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sung Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004285:Dogs; D004298:Dopamine / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D006108:Graphite; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D004298:Dopamine