Tumor-specific fluorescent Cdots-based nanotheranostics by acid-labile conjugation of doxorubicin onto...

Carbon quantum dots (Cdots) have attracted more and more interests in bioimaging and tumor theranostics. However, their practical application has been limited due to the small particle size and non-tumor-specific fluorescence. Here, reduction-cleavable disulfide-linked Cdots-based nanoclusters were fabricated to conjugate doxorubicin (DOX) via an acid-labile hydrazone bond. Owing to the pH and reduction dual-stimuli responsiveness, the proposed Cdots-based nanotheranostics possessed unique tumor-specific fluorescent property and tumor-specific controlled drug release performance, indicating their promising potential for the in-situ real-time fluorescent monitoring of therapeutic response in future tumor therapy.