title: Photoluminescent graphene quantum dots for in vivo imaging of apoptotic cells.
abstract: Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is linked to many incurable neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and cancer causing diseases. Numerous methods have been developed for imaging apoptotic cells in vitro; however, there are few methods available for imaging apoptotic cells in live animals (in vivo). Here we report a novel method utilizing the unique photoluminescence properties of plant leaf-derived graphene quantum dots (GQDs) modified with annexin V antibody (AbA5) to form (AbA5)-modified GQDs (AbA5-GQDs) enabling us to label apoptotic cells in live zebrafish (Danio rerio). The key is that zebrafish shows bright red photoluminescence in the presence of apoptotic cells. The toxicity of the GQDs has also been investigated with the GQDs exhibiting high biocompatibility as they were excreted from the zebrafish's body without affecting its growth significantly at a concentration lower than 2 mg mL(-1) over a period of 4 to 72 hour post fertilization. The GQDs have further been used to image human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7 cells), human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cells), and normal human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). These results are indispensable to further the advance of graphene-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan. changht@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Prathik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Arun Prakash
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Periasamy
authors.forename: Chiu-Ya
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Guor-Mour
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Her
authors.forename: Wei-Jane
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Chi-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chia-Lun
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Chih-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chi-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Huan-Tsung
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000737:chemistry; D017209:Apoptosis; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006108:Graphite