Cellular uptake and viability switch in the properties of lipid-coated carbon quantum dots for potential bioimaging and therapeutics

Abstract

Carbon quantum dots derived from mango leaves exhibited bright red fluorescence. These negatively charged particles underwent coating with the positively charged lipid molecule N-[1-(2,3-dioleyloxy) propyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride (DOTMA). However, the bioconjugate displayed reduced uptake compared to the standalone mQDs in cancer cells (SUM 159A), and increased uptake in the case of epithelial (RPE-1) cells. Upon in vitro testing, the bioconjugate demonstrated a mitigating effect on the individual toxicity of both DOTMA and mQDs in SUM-159A (cancerous cells) and of DOTMA in RPE-1 cells. Conversely, it exhibited a proliferative effect on RPE-1 (epithelial cells). Surface modifications of QDs with lipids thus enhances their compatibility with biological systems, reducing systemic toxicity, minimizing off-site effects, sustaining drug release, and modulating cellular viability through various mechanisms (for example, apoptosis), which is, therefore, crucial for multiple applications such as targeted therapeutics.