Unravelling the Potential of Graphene Quantum Dots in Biomedicine and Neuroscience
Open Access
- 25 May 2020
- journal article
- review article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Vol. 21 (10), 3712
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21103712
Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting nanoparticles that have been gaining ground in various applications, including the biomedical field, thanks to their unique optical properties. Recently, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have earned attention in biomedicine and nanomedicine, thanks to their higher biocompatibility and low cytotoxicity compared to other QDs. GQDs share the optical properties of QD and have proven ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). For this reason, GQDs are now being employed to deepen our knowledge in neuroscience diagnostics and therapeutics. Their size and surface chemistry that ease the loading of chemotherapeutic drugs, makes them ideal drug delivery systems through the bloodstream, across the BBB, up to the brain. GQDs-based neuroimaging techniques and theranostic applications, such as photothermal and photodynamic therapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy, have been designed. In this review, optical properties and biocompatibility of GQDs will be described. Then, the ability of GQDs to overtake the BBB and reach the brain will be discussed. At last, applications of GQDs in bioimaging, photophysical therapies and drug delivery to the central nervous system will be considered, unraveling their potential in the neuroscientific field.Funding Information
- Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro (IG 2019 – ID 23124)
This publication has 117 references indexed in Scilit:
- In Vivo Biodistribution and Toxicology of Carboxylated Graphene Quantum DotsACS Nano, 2013
- Is There Real Upconversion Photoluminescence from Graphene Quantum Dots?Advanced Optical Materials, 2013
- Theranostic quantum dots for crossing blood–brain barrier in vitro and providing therapy of HIV-associated encephalopathyFrontiers in Pharmacology, 2013
- Eco-friendly synthesis of size-controllable amine-functionalized graphene quantum dots with antimycoplasma propertiesNanoscale, 2013
- Observation of Multiphoton‐Induced Fluorescence from Graphene Oxide Nanoparticles and Applications in In Vivo Functional BioimagingAngewandte Chemie, 2012
- Quantum dots: synthesis, bioapplications, and toxicityNanoscale Research Letters, 2012
- Graphene Quantum Dots Derived from Carbon FibersNano Letters, 2012
- Quantum dots and nanocompositesWIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, 2010
- Structure and function of the blood–brain barrierNeurobiology of Disease, 2010
- MMP-9 gene silencing by a quantum dot–siRNA nanoplex delivery to maintain the integrity of the blood brain barrierBrain Research, 2009