Chitosan functionalized graphene oxide nanocomposites for fluorescence imaging of apoptotic processes and targeted anti-inflammation study. (1st October 2021) - Li, Yi
Abstract: This work reports novel chitosan functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites combined fluorescence imaging and therapeutic functions in one agent, which can serve as a promising alternative to alleviate related diseases caused hyperinflammation. Briefly, GO was designed to be conjugated with chitosan, fluorescein-labeled peptide, toll-like receptor 4 antibody and hydroxycamptothecin/aloe emodin. We have demonstrated that such nanocomposites could effectively achieve active targeted delivery of pro-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory drugs into inflammatory cells and cause cells apoptosis by acid-responsive drug release. Moreover, confocal fluorescence imaging confirms that the drug-induced inflammatory cells apoptosis could be visualized the light-up fluorescence of fluorescein activated by caspase-3. Meanwhile, inflammatory-related biomarkers have down-regulated after the nanocomposites' treatment in both vitro and vivo experiments consistent with the results in histological sections. In summary, the bifunctional nanocomposites that possess anti-inflammation and fluorescence imaging could serve as a promising therapeutic agent for reducing hyperinflammation caused by numerous diseases. Highlights: Chitosan functionalized grapheme oxide nanocomposites are developed, which has the properties of high LC, LE and pH-dependent drug release. The nanocomposites can achieve both targeted delivery of pro-apoptotic drugs into inflammatory cells and fluorescence imaging of apoptotic processes. The nanocomposites are expected to constitute a promising therapeutic agent for reducing hyperinflammation caused by numerous diseases including COVID-19.