Easy Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Carbon Dots Using the One-Pot Green Method for Cancer Therapy.

In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) were used for the synthesis of novel targeted nanocarrier carbon dots (CD) with photo-luminescence using a one-step hydrothermal method. Doxorubicin (DOX), a common chemotherapeutic agent, was loaded with the CD through electrostatic interactions to form DOX-CD complexes as a targeted antitumor drug delivery system. The synthesized CD show a particle size of approximately 6 nm and a high fluorescence quantum yield of 11.64%. The physical and chemical character properties of CD and DOX-CD complexes were investigated using various techniques. The results show that CD have stable luminescent properties and exhibit excellent water solubility. The in vitro release study showed that DOX-CD exhibited pH-dependent release for 24 h. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was applied to investigate the potential of CD for cell imaging and the cellular uptake of DOX-CD in different cells (NIH-3T3 and 4T1 cells), and the results confirmed the target cell imaging and cellular uptake of DOX-CD by specifically binding the CD receptors on the surface of tumor cells. The r MTT results suggest that the DOX-CD complex may induce apoptosis in 4T1 cells, reducing the cytotoxicity of free DOX-induced apoptosis. In vivo antitumor experiments of DOX-CD exhibited enhanced tumor cancer therapy. CD have potential applications in bioimaging and antitumor drug delivery.