Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have received considerable attentions due to their distinct benefits such as excellent biocompatibility, dispersion stability in aqueous media, and low cytotoxicity compared with other semiconductor or inorganic quantum dots (QDs). In this study, highly fluorescent and water-soluble CQDs have been prepared from folic acid as a kind of A2B type polyamidation monomer (A:-COOH, B:-NH2) through simple microwave treatment by using household microwave oven. Prepared folic acid-based CQDs (FA-CQDs) show strong blue emission at 446 nm under ultraviolet irradiation, low cytotoxicity by MTT assay and high cellular uptake by flow cytometer analysis. Consequently, FA-CQDs can be successfully exploited as targeted drug delivery system for the therapy and diagnosis of cancers.

Simple microwave-assisted synthesis of fluorescent and water-soluble carbon quantum dots enabling targeted drug delivery to cancer cells

256th National Meeting (2018)

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