Issue 32, 2017

Graphene quantum dots: multifunctional nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy

Abstract

Graphene quantum dots, the next generation carbon based nanomaterials, due to their outstanding physical, chemical and biological properties, have shown potential in revolutionizing the future of nanomedicine and biotechnology. Their strong size-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and the presence of reactive groups on the GQD surface, which allow their multimodal conjugation with various functional groups and biologically active molecules, make them ideal candidates for cancer diagnosis and treatment. GQDs have been loaded with drugs and labeled with tumor-targeting ligand units that are able to specifically recognize cancer receptors exposed on the cancer cell surface by generating new therapies that are able to allow a more efficient targeted delivery of anticancer agents while minimizing their distribution in healthy tissues, as well as the development of new imaging agents for the in vitro and in vivo diagnosis of several types of cancer. Here, we review the recent advances in the study of the application of GQDs as nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy, taking into account the methods used for their synthesis and functionalization procedures, which can deeply affect their biocompatibility and their electronic and optical features. The biosafety and toxicity aspects of these nanomaterials at cellular and animal levels, mainly related to their size and the kind and degree of surface functionalization, are also discussed.

Graphical abstract: Graphene quantum dots: multifunctional nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
18 mars 2017
Accepted
11 avr. 2017
First published
12 avr. 2017

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017,5, 6471-6489

Graphene quantum dots: multifunctional nanoplatforms for anticancer therapy

D. Iannazzo, I. Ziccarelli and A. Pistone, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2017, 5, 6471 DOI: 10.1039/C7TB00747G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements