The conjugates of carbon nanodots and chlorin e6 for enhancing cellular internalization and photodynamic therapy of cancers. (10th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jing; Wang, Xiongwei; Wang, Shimiao; Huang, Zheng; Liu, Jun
• Is Part Of: Laser physics letters. Volume 13:Number 9(2016:Sep.)
• Publication Date: 2016-08-10
• Subjects: carbon nanodots -- photodynamic therapy -- chlorin e6; Lasers -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1088/1612-2011/13/9/095602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1612-2011

Abstract

Abstract: Chlorin e6 (Ce6), a large heterocyclic aromatic molecule, is a promising photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT). We propose an efficient nano-photosensitizer delivery system based on covalent interactions between Ce6 and polyethylenimine (PEI) coated carbon nanodots (CDots). We observed >50% Ce6 drug loading content for PEI, due to this compound's unique 'proton sponge effect.' We found that the covalently incorporated Ce6 molecules retained their functional properties for near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging and PDT. The chemical characteristics of CDot-PEI-Ce6 and Ce6 were evaluated using different analytical methods, including transmission electron microscopy and UV–Visible absorption spectra. Time-correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and fluorescence spectra were used to demonstrate that Ce6 successfully conjugated to the CDots. The high cellular uptake of CDots-PEI-Ce6 was confirmed using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. According to the MTT assay, the CDots-PEI-Ce6 exhibited low dark toxicity and efficient PDT efficacy to HeLa cancer cells. These results indicate that CDot-PEI-Ce6 conjugates are potential photosensitizer delivery systems for PDT.