Milk-derived multi-fluorescent graphene quantum dot-based cancer theranostic system.
An economical green-chemistry approach was used for the synthesis of aqueous soluble graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from cow milk for simultaneous imaging and drug delivery in cancer. The GQDs synthesized using one-pot microwave-assisted heating were multi-fluorescent, spherical in shape having a lateral size of ca. 5nm. The role of processing parameters such as heating time and ionic strength showed a profound effect on photoluminescence properties of GQDs. The GQDs were N-doped and oxygen-rich as confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Cysteamine hydrochloride (Cys) was used to attach an anti-cancer drug berberine hydrochloride (BHC) on GQDs forming GQDs@Cys-BHC complex with c.a. 88% drug loading efficiency. In vitro drug release was studied at the acidic-basic environment and drug kinetics was studied using pharmacokinetic statistical models. The GQDs were biocompatible on L929 cells whereas theranostic GQDs@Cys-BHC complex showed a potent cytotoxic effect on different cancerous cell line models: cervical cancer cell lines such as HeLa cells and breast cancer cells such as MDA-MB-231 confirmed by Trypan blue and MTT-based cytotoxic assays. Furthermore, multi-excitation based cellular bioimaging was demonstrated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and fluorescence microscopy using GQDs as well as GQDs@Cys-BHC complex. Thus, drug delivery (therapeutic) and bioimaging (diagnostic) properties of GQDs@Cys-BHC complex are thought to have a potential in vitro theranostic application in cancer therapy.
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil University, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai 400 614, Maharashtra, India; N.S.N. Research Centre for Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology, Jambhul Phata, Ambernath (W) 421 504, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: mukeshchandthakur@yahoo.com.
Mukeshchand
M
Thakur
N.S.N. Research Centre for Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology, Jambhul Phata, Ambernath (W) 421 504, Maharashtra, India; Walchand Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology (wcRnb), Walchand College of Arts and Science, Walchand-Hirachand Marg, Ashok Chowk, Solapur 413006, Maharashtra, India.
Ashmi
A
Mewada
N.S.N. Research Centre for Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology, Jambhul Phata, Ambernath (W) 421 504, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: gurus.spandey@gmail.com.
Sunil
S
Pandey
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil University, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai 400 614, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: mustansyrr@gmail.com.
Mustansir
M
Bhori
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, D.Y. Patil University, Sector 15, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai 400 614, Maharashtra, India.
Kanchanlata
K
Singh
N.S.N. Research Centre for Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology, Jambhul Phata, Ambernath (W) 421 504, Maharashtra, India; Walchand Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology (wcRnb), Walchand College of Arts and Science, Walchand-Hirachand Marg, Ashok Chowk, Solapur 413006, Maharashtra, India.
Maheshwar
M
Sharon
N.S.N. Research Centre for Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology, Jambhul Phata, Ambernath (W) 421 504, Maharashtra, India; Walchand Centre for Research in Nanotechnology and Bio-nanotechnology (wcRnb), Walchand College of Arts and Science, Walchand-Hirachand Marg, Ashok Chowk, Solapur 413006, Maharashtra, India. Electronic address: sharonmadhuri@gmail.com.
Madhuri
M
Sharon
D000818:Animals; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000473:pathology; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D000068936:Theranostic Nanomedicine / Q000379:methods*
D006108:Graphite
Apoptosis; Cancer; Cell cycle; Drug delivery; Graphene quantum dots; Theranostic