There has been a surge of interest in utilizing carbon nanoparticles as optical imaging agents driven in large part by their inherent chemical inertness, strong luminescence properties and biocompatibility. However, current carbon nanoparticles are cumbersome in preparations that rely on conventional methods, albeit reliable, but cannot scale to large quantities for clinical use. Here, we have designed and synthesized for the first time, luminescent carbon nanoparticles from commercial food grade, agave nectar and molasses. A simple and inexpensive single-pot green chemistry approach has been developed, which entails surface passivation of these naked carbon nanoparticles with a dendritic or hyperbranched organic macromolecule. Interestingly, the surface passivation with hyperbranched polymers (generation 2-4) facilitated the absorption of the particles in the near infrared region. The as-synthesized carbon nanoparticles (8-25nm) were prepared using a domestic microwave. The particles had a tunable fluorescence properties within 650-800nm, which is ideal for in vivo imaging. The syntheses also involved the use of clinically adopted anticancer agents (e.g. doxorubicin, paclitaxel) to generate nanoparticles with 'theranostic' properties. Dissolution studies indicated an ~90% encapsulation efficiency for the drug moelcules. We will discuss characterization of these particles using dynamic light scattering, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Atomic Force microscopy, Transmission Electron microscopy, Scanning Electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrophoretic potential, and cytotoxicity analysis for evaluation of their chemical structure, morphology and biocompatibility. This approach holds immense promise towards clinical scalability, reduced procedural expense and improved patient outcomes. We envision that these colloidal nanoscale theranostic agents will provide invaluable information on the progression of cancer as well as enable enhanced therapy and diagnosis.

Oh so sweet! Carbon nanoparticles from natural sweeteners for cancer theranostics

247th National Meeting (2014)

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