Nano-carriers with photoactivatable graphene quantum dot (GQD) cores have been developed for intracellular release of small molecule bioregulators such as nitric oxide (NO). These hydrophilic nanocarriers with lipophilic domains are used for loading the hydrophobic NO prodrug trans-[PetACr(ONO)2]BPh4. Trans-[PetACr(ONO)2 ]<sup>+</sup> is a UV-visible light sensitive complex stable at physiologically relevant temperatures. The GQD nano-carriers release NO upon exposure to near infrared (NIR) light. The surface of the nano-carriers has been modified using cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) via a biotin-streptavadin-tat assembly strategy. CPP modified GQD nano-carriers internalized by HeLa cells exposed to NIR light result in the intracellular release of NO observed using the fluorescent reporter DAF-FM.

Application of graphene quantum dots for NIR light triggered intracellular release of nitric oxide

2019 Fall National Meeting

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