Highly fluorescent and morphology-controllable graphene quantum dots-chitosan hybrid xerogels for in vivo imaging and pH-sensitive drug carrier.
Highly fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-chitosan (CS) hybrid xerogels (GQDs-CS) were facilely synthesized, and the morphology of GQDs-CS was controllable by varying the content of GQDs in the xerogel. The GQDs-CS exhibited a porous and three-dimensional (3D) network structure when the content of GQDs reached 43% (wt%) in the xerogel, which was beneficial for drug loading and sustained release. The as-prepared GQDs-CS could also be applied for in vivo imaging since it showed strong blue, green and red luminescence under excitation of varying wavelengths. Moreover, the pH-induced protonation/deprotonation of the -NH2 groups on CS chains can result in a pH-dependent drug delivery behavior of the GQDs-CS hybrid xerogel.
Advanced Catalysis and Green Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Ouyang
O
Lv
Advanced Catalysis and Green Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Yongxin
Y
Tao
Advanced Catalysis and Green Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Yong
Y
Qin
School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003, China.
Chuanxiang
C
Chen
Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Yan
Y
Pan
Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Linhong
L
Deng
School of pharmaceutical Engineering & Life Science, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China.
Li
L
Liu
Advanced Catalysis and Green Manufacturing Collaborative Innovation Center, School of Petrochemical Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China. Electronic address: yzkongyong@126.com.
Yong
Y
Kong
D000818:Animals; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D005782:Gels; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D061848:Optical Imaging; D016062:Porosity; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005782:Gels; D006108:Graphite; D048271:Chitosan
Chitosan; Drug delivery; Graphene quantum dots; In vivo imagine; Xerogel