Bamboo leaf-based carbon dots for efficient tumor imaging and therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Carbon dots (CDs) offer potential in biomedical applications due to their unique optical properties and low toxicity.
• Utilizing waste biomass like bamboo leaves for CD synthesis presents a sustainable and eco-friendly approach.
• Targeted drug delivery systems are crucial for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy and minimizing side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize carbon dots from bamboo leaf cellulose for simultaneous bio-imaging and targeted drug delivery.
• To functionalize carbon dots with 4-carboxybenzylboronic acid and doxorubicin for enhanced specificity towards HeLa tumor cells.
• To evaluate the biocompatibility, stability, cellular uptake, and therapeutic potential of the modified carbon dots.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of carbon dots from bamboo leaf cellulose via a green chemistry approach.
• Modification of carbon dots with 4-carboxybenzylboronic acid and doxorubicin.
• Characterization using various analytical techniques (e.g., spectroscopy, microscopy).
• In vitro studies including confocal microscopy, cell viability assays, and flow cytometry on HeLa cells.

Main Results:

• Synthesized carbon dots exhibited blue fluorescence, biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and stability across a wide pH range and ionic strengths.
• Modified carbon dots demonstrated folate receptor-mediated endocytosis for cellular uptake in HeLa cells.
• Selective uptake by HeLa cells was confirmed, leading to significantly enhanced cell cytotoxicity upon doxorubicin delivery.

Conclusions:

• Bamboo leaf-derived carbon dots are a promising, sustainable platform for multifunctional biomedical applications.
• The functionalized carbon dots effectively target cancer cells and enhance the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin.
• This approach represents an innovative strategy for green cancer theranostics.