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Graphene Quantum Dots for Theranostics and Bioimaging

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Abstract

Since their advent in the early 1990s, nanomaterials hold promise to constitute improved technologies in the biomedical area. In particular, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) were conjectured to produce new or improve current methods used for bioimaging, drug delivery, and biomarker sensors for early detection of diseases. This review article critically compares and discusses current state-of-the-art use of GQDs in biology and health sciences. It shows the ability of GQDs to be easily functionalised for use as a targeted multimodal treatment and imaging platform. The in vitro and in vivo toxicity of GQDs are explored showing low toxicity for many types of GQDs.

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Abbreviations

1O2 :

Singlet oxygen

3T3-L1:

Adipocyte cells

3T3-L1:

Adipocyte cells

A549:

Human lung carcinoma cells

BSA:

Bovine serum albumin

CD44:

A type of receptor

Ce6:

Chlorine e6

CFP-10:

A tuberculosis antigen

CHO-K1:

Chinese hamster ovary cells

CPCs:

Cardiac progenitor cells

Cur:

Curcumin

DAPI:

4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, a dye

DGO:

Double-oxidised graphen oxide

DHR:

Dihydrorohdamine, a redox sensitive dye

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOX:

Doxorubicin

DTT:

Dithiothreitol

Em:

Emission

EPR:

Electron paramagnetic resonance

Ex:

Excitation

FA:

Folic acid

FRET:

Forster/fluorescence resonance energy transfer

GBP:

Gold binding protein

GO:

Graphene oxide

GoQD:

Oxidised graphene quantum dots

GQD:

Graphene quantum dot

GSH:

Glutathione

HA:

Hyaluronic acid

HCT 116:

Human colon adenocarcinoma cells

HEK293A:

Human embryonic kidney cells

HeLa:

Human cervical cancer cells

HepG2:

Human liver carcinoma cells

HER2:

Receptors on some breast cancer cells

hNSCs:

Human neural stem cells

HOMO:

Highest molecular orbital

IP:

Intraperitoneal

IR:

Infrared

IV:

Intravenous

LDH:

Lactase dehydrogenase

LI:

Lidocaine

LUMO:

Lowest molecular orbital

Mag-Plas:

Magneto-plasmonic

MC3T3:

Mouse osteoblastic cells

MCF-7:

Human breast cancer cells

MDCK:

Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells

MG-63:

Human osteosarcoma cells

MGC-803:

Kidney cancer cells

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MTT:

3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide

Na2-ADPA:

Disodium 9,10-anthracen-dipropionic acid

NGF:

Nerve growth factor

N-GQDs:

GQDs doped with nitrogen

NP:

Nanoparticle

NSCs:

Neurosphere cells

NW:

Nanowire

PBS:

Phosphate buffered saline

PC12:

Neuroendocrine cells

PDT:

Photodynamic therapy

PEG:

Polyethylene glycol

PEI:

Polyethylenimine

PL:

Photoluminescence

PNF:

Peptide nano fibre

PNFs:

Peptide nanofibers

PPCs:

Pancreas progenitor cells

PpIX:

Protoporphyrin IX

PS:

Photosensitiser

QD:

Quantum dot

QY:

Quantum yield

r1 :

Longitudinal relaxivity

r-GQDs:

Reduced GQD

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SERS:

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering

SS:

Disulfide

T47D:

Human breast cancer cells

U251:

Human glioma cells

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  1. The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials & Nanotechnology, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand

    Kathryn L. Schroeder, Renee V. Goreham & Thomas Nann

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  1. Kathryn L. Schroeder
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  2. Renee V. Goreham
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  3. Thomas Nann
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Correspondence to Thomas Nann.

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Schroeder, K.L., Goreham, R.V. & Nann, T. Graphene Quantum Dots for Theranostics and Bioimaging. Pharm Res 33, 2337–2357 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11095-016-1937-x

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