title: A graphene quantum dot photodynamic therapy agent with high singlet oxygen generation.
abstract: Clinical applications of current photodynamic therapy (PDT) agents are often limited by their low singlet oxygen ((1)O2) quantum yields, as well as by photobleaching and poor biocompatibility. Here we present a new PDT agent based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) that can produce (1)O2 via a multistate sensitization process, resulting in a quantum yield of ~1.3, the highest reported for PDT agents. The GQDs also exhibit a broad absorption band spanning the UV region and the entire visible region and a strong deep-red emission. Through in vitro and in vivo studies, we demonstrate that GQDs can be used as PDT agents, simultaneously allowing imaging and providing a highly efficient cancer therapy. The present work may lead to a new generation of carbon-based nanomaterial PDT agents with overall performance superior to conventional agents in terms of (1)O2 quantum yield, water dispersibility, photo- and pH-stability, and biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China [2].
authors.forename: Jiechao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China [2].
authors.forename: Minhuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Bingjiang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Qingyan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Guangle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Hangyue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Xiangmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry (TIPC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) and Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Sing
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) and Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR 999077, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microstructure and Properties of Advanced Materials, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005260:Female; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots; D026082:Singlet Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011108:Polymers; D011166:Porphyrins; D013876:Thiophenes; D026082:Singlet Oxygen; C066730:polythiophene; D002244:Carbon; D006108:Graphite; D010100:Oxygen
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