Folic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots: Synthesis, characterization, radiolabeling with radium-223 and antiviral effect against Zika virus infection.

The use of graphene quantum dots as biomedical devices and drug delivery systems has been increasing. The nano-platform of pure carbon has shown unique properties and is approved to be safe for human use. In this study, we successfully produced and characterized folic acid-functionalized graphene quantum dots (GQD-FA) to evaluate their antiviral activity against Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in vitro, and for radiolabeling with the alpha-particle emitting radionuclide radium-223. The in vitro results exhibited the low cytotoxicity of the nanoprobe GQD-FA in Vero E6 cells and the antiviral effect against replication of the ZIKV infection. In addition, our findings demonstrated that functionalization with folic acid doesn't improve the antiviral effect of graphene quantum dots against ZIVK replication in vitro. On the other hand, the radiolabeled nanoprobe 223Ra@GQD-FA was also produced as confirmed by the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy analysis. 223Ra@GQD-FA might expand the application of alpha targeted therapy using radium-223 in folate receptor-overexpressing tumors.

Graphene quantum dots decorated with imatinib for leukemia treatment.

The use of graphene quantum dots as biomedical device and drug delivery system has been increasing. This nanoplatform of pure carbon has showed unique properties and showed to be safe for human use. The imatinib is a molecule designed to specifically inhibit the tyrosine kinase, used for leukemia treatment. In this study, we successfully decorated the graphene quantum dots (GQDs@imatinb) by a carbodiimide crosslinking reaction. The GQDs@imatinb were characterized by FTIR and AFM. The nanoparticles' in vitro behaviors were evaluated by cellular trafficking (internalization) assay and cell viability and apoptosis assays in various cancer cell lines, including suspension (leukemia) cells and adherent cancer cells. The results showed that the incorporation of the imatinib on the surface of the graphene quantum dots did not change the nanoparticles' morphology and properties. The GQDs@imatinb could be efficiently internalized and kill cancer cells via the induction of apoptosis. The data indicated that the prepared GQDs@imatinb might be a great drug nano-platform for cancer, particularly leukemia treatments.