title: Simultaneous tracking of drug molecules and carriers using aptamer-functionalized fluorescent superstable gold nanorod-carbon nanocapsules during thermo-chemotherapy.
abstract: Controlling and monitoring the drug delivery process is critical to its intended therapeutic function. Many nanocarrier systems for drug delivery have been successfully developed. However, biocompatibility, stability, and simultaneously tracing drugs and nanocarriers present significant limitations. Herein, we have fabricated a multifunctional nanocomposite by coating the gold nanorod (AuNR) with a biocompatible, superstable and fluorescent carbon layer, obtaining the AuNR@carbon core-shell nanocapsule. In this system, the carbon shell, originally obtained in aqueous glucose solutions and, therefore, biocompatible in physiological environments, could be simply loaded with cell-specific aptamers and therapeutic molecules through π-π interactions, a useful tool for cancer-targeted cellular imaging and therapy. Moreover, such a stable and intrinsic fluorescence effect of the AuNR@carbon enabled simultaneous tracking of released therapeutic molecules and nanocarriers under thermo-chemotherapy. The AuNR@carbons had high surface areas and stable shells, as well as unique optical and photothermal properties, making them promising nanostructures for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Xue-Wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Huanhuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Ding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Yu-Xiu
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Av. Padre Tomás Pereira Taipa, Macau, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Molecular Sciences and Biomedicine Laboratory, State Key Laboratory for Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology and Collaborative Innovation Center for Molecular Engineering and Theranostics, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China. zhuochen@hnu.edu.cn tan@chem.ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D002244:Carbon; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006046:Gold; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004337:Drug Carriers; D053769:Nanocapsules; D002244:Carbon; D006046:Gold; D004317:Doxorubicin