title: Functionalized Carbon Nano-scale Drug Delivery Systems From Biowaste Sago Bark For Cancer Cell Imaging.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nano-scale carbon systems are emerging alternatives in drug delivery and bioimaging applications of which they gradually replace the quantum dots characterized by toxic heavy metal content in the latter application.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The work intended to use carbon nanospheres synthesized from biowaste Sago bark for cancer cell imaging applications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study synthesised carbon nanospheres from biowaste Sago bark using a catalyst-free pyrolysis technique. The nanospheres were functionalized with fluorescent dye coumarin-6 for cell imaging. Fluorescent nanosytems were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X ray, photon correlation spectroscopy and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average size of carbon nanospheres ranged between 30 and 40 nm with zeta potential of -26.8 ± 1.87 mV. The percentage viability of cancer cells on exposure to nanospheres varied from 91- 89 % for N2a cells and 90-85 % for A-375 cells respectively. Speedy uptake of the fluorescent nanospheres in both N2a and A-375 cells was observed within two hours of exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Novel fluorescent carbon nanosystem design following waste-to-wealth approach exhibited promising potential in cancer cell imaging applications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300, Gambang, Kuantan. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Shoriya Aruni
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Abdul Manaf
authors.affiliation: BMS R and D Centre, BMSCE, Bull Temple Road, 560019, Bangalore. India.
authors.forename: Gurumurthy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.affiliation: Kulliah of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia, 25200, Kuantan. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Uttam Kumar
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.affiliation: Non-Destructive Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Research Centre, iPROMISE, UniversitiTeknologi MARA, PuncakAlam, 42300, Selangor. Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tin Wong
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wui
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Adamas University, Kolkata. India.
authors.forename: Partha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D061848:Optical Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002244:Carbon
keywords: Bioimaging; Sago bark; catalyst-free pyrolysis; cytotoxicity; nano-scale carbon systems; spectroscopy