Carbonic anhydrase-IX targeted copper-doped carbon dots as a theranostic probe for treating triple negative breast cancer

Abstract

Herein, we demonstrate selective diagnosis and chemodynamic therapy in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells by carbonic anhydrase-IX targeted acetazolamide-functionalized copper-doped carbon dots (CuCD-Az). CuCD-Az showed ∼3-fold higher cytotoxicity to TNBC compared to normal cells by ROS-mediated apoptosis via Fenton-like reaction.