TY - JOUR
T1 - Ln(III) chelates-functionalized carbon quantum dots
T2 - Synthesis, optical studies and multimodal bioimaging applications
AU - Wu, Fengshou
AU - Yue, Liangliang
AU - Yang, Lixia
AU - Wang, Kai
AU - Liu, Genyan
AU - Luo, Xiaogang
AU - Zhu, Xunjin
N1 - Funding Information:javascript:void(0);
We are thankful for the support from National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 21601142 ) and Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province ( 2017CFB689 ). X. Zhu thanks Hong Kong Research Grants Council (HKBU 22304115-ECS) and the financial support from Hong Kong Baptist University ( RC-IRMS/16/17/02CHEM , RC-ICRS/15-16/02E and FRG2/14-15/034 ).
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - The carbon quantum dots termined with amine groups (CQDs-NH 2 ) were synthesized in one-pot hydrothermal method with citric acid as carbon source and branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) as passive agent, which was then covalently linked to 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclononane (DOTA) framework to yield CQDs-DOTA. The CQDs-DOTA provide excellent ligand scaffolds for the chelation of lanthanide ions, yielding the related complexes CQDs-DOTA-Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb, Yb and Gd). The successful preparation of CQDs-DOTA-Ln was validated by TEM, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The CQDs-DOTA-Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb and Yb) exhibited the characteristic emissions of related lanthanide ions, indicating the CQDs could sensitize the luminescence of lanthanide ions. Besides, the CQDs-DOTA-Gd could serve as an excellent T1-weighted MR imaging probe due to the chelation of paramagnetic Gd (III) ions and good hydrophilicity. The cytotoxicity of CQDs-DOTA-Ln was evaluated through MTT assay upon HeLa cells. The images from fluorescence microscopy further verified their applications in bioimaging in vitro. Due to the good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high contrast efficiency, the CQDs-DOTA-Ln with Vis/NIR fluorescence and MR multi-modal imaging performance could be used as potential contrast agents for clinic applications.
AB - The carbon quantum dots termined with amine groups (CQDs-NH 2 ) were synthesized in one-pot hydrothermal method with citric acid as carbon source and branched polyethylenimine (BPEI) as passive agent, which was then covalently linked to 1, 4, 7, 10-tetraazacyclononane (DOTA) framework to yield CQDs-DOTA. The CQDs-DOTA provide excellent ligand scaffolds for the chelation of lanthanide ions, yielding the related complexes CQDs-DOTA-Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb, Yb and Gd). The successful preparation of CQDs-DOTA-Ln was validated by TEM, XRD, XPS, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The CQDs-DOTA-Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb and Yb) exhibited the characteristic emissions of related lanthanide ions, indicating the CQDs could sensitize the luminescence of lanthanide ions. Besides, the CQDs-DOTA-Gd could serve as an excellent T1-weighted MR imaging probe due to the chelation of paramagnetic Gd (III) ions and good hydrophilicity. The cytotoxicity of CQDs-DOTA-Ln was evaluated through MTT assay upon HeLa cells. The images from fluorescence microscopy further verified their applications in bioimaging in vitro. Due to the good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and high contrast efficiency, the CQDs-DOTA-Ln with Vis/NIR fluorescence and MR multi-modal imaging performance could be used as potential contrast agents for clinic applications.
KW - Bioimaging
KW - Carbon quantum dots
KW - Energy transfer
KW - Lanthanide
KW - MRI
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85058057925&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.11.054
DO - 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.11.054
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30551014
AN - SCOPUS:85058057925
SN - 0927-7765
VL - 175
SP - 272
EP - 280
JO - Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
JF - Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces
ER -