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Graphene Quantum Dots-based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery 365

4 Characterization of GQDs-Based Nanomaterials

One of the most crucial photophysical metrics when describing luminous materials is the quantum yield (QY) [27]. To fine-tune the proposed sensing system, the QY of all these systems has been examined across a broad spectrum of conditions, including temperature, concentration, time, and pH (Fig. 12.2a–d). As shown in Fig. 12.2,the computed values of QY do not change sequentially. This provesthe proposed strategy can be applied in various settings beyond this research. According to the study, B­GQDs have a high QY, but because of their lower stability, their QY has decreased. Co-doped GQDs with enhanced strength showed improved QY [28]. Further, GQD has been functionalized with various chemical for their implementation in biomedical applications [18, 27, 3035].

4.1 Characterization of Multifunctional GQDs-Based Nanomaterials

As shown in Fig. 12.3A, the XRD is utilized to evaluate the degree of crystallinity of the manufactured materials. In Fig. 12.3B, we have a representation of the particle
Fig. 12.2 For QYs screening, a three-dimensional graphic depicts multiple physical factors, such as a temperature, b concentration, c duration, and d the influence of pH. Reproduced with permission
from Royal Society of Chemistry [29]
366 M. Emamul Kabir et al.
shape of the as-synthesized materials. Figure 12.3Ba–e demonstrates that at 10,000 magnifications, N0, N1, N2, N3, and N4 formed thin leaf-like assemblies with wrin­kles and random forms due to the layered structure of graphene. Therefore, as illus­trated in Fig. 12.3B (f), N4 is observed to be flake-like nanoplatelets under 30,000 magnifications. These findings corroborate those in graphite particles, including tiny, platelet-like carbon crystals [21]. Figure 12.3C shows the as-synthesized materials’ microstructure and average diameter. As synthesized, the average size of the nanopar­ticles is 2.6, 2.5, 2.5, 2.1, and 2.0 nm for N0, N1, N2, N3, and N4. In conclusion, the N-tamper with GQDs was effectively synthesized, and the hydrothermal method of nitrogen doping had no discernible effect on the morphology or structure of GQDs.
Fig. 12.3 GQD and N(1,2,34)-doped GQD (4.2 g of citric acid (as the carbon-graphene source) and urea (as the nitrogen doping) in varying quantities of 3.6, 4.2, 5 and 5.6 g were designated as N1, N2, N3, and N4, respectively) (A) XRD patterns. Micrographs taken with a FE-SEM at 10,000 × and 30,000 × magnification of N0, N1, N2, N3, and N4-doped GQDs, respectively (B). Comparison (C)HR-TEM images and particle size distribution c urves between a N0-doped GQDs, b N1-doped GQDs. c N2-doped GQDs, d N3-doped GQDs, and e N4-doped GQDs. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier [36]
Graphene Quantum Dots-based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery 367
5 Various Methods for Designing GQDs-Based Drug
Delivery System

5.1 Strategies for Developing Medication Delivery Systems Based on GQD

Many researchers have made GQDs multipurpose drug vehicles. Because of its special characteristics, it can serve as a nanoparticle host for both organic and inor­ganic molecules. This enhances targeted drug delivery, controlled/sustained drug release, infected cell cytotoxicity, drug loading capacity, bioavailability, and biocom­patibility [37]. GQD-based DDS (GQD-DDS) uses numerous methods to provide the greatest results with the least systemic toxicity dependent on therapy needs and drug cell lines. GDQs can now efficiently transport medications to cells and tissues based on pH, ligands, and redox potential.

5.2 PH-responsive Drug Delivery Systems (GQD-DDSs)

The pH of the body’s organs and tissues varies widely, from about 1.5 (acidic) in the bottom stomach area to about 7.5–8 (basic) in the small intestine. Enzymes, the metabolism of food and medications, and the preservation of homeostasis all rely on a stable pH level. pH-sensitive GQD-DDSs use this for precise drug administration. They promote autophagy and destroy infected cells by transporting chemotherapy medicines to acidic cells and other tumor cell compartments [38, 39]. The metabolic byproduct lactic acid, frequently found in tumor cells, causes cancer cells to become more acidic. As a result, their pH levels are below that of healthy cells [40]. GQDs are ideal drug delivery vehicles because of their distinct physicochemical features, which allow for controlled drug release at pH-dependent segments. GQDs deliver doxorubicin and other standard anti-cancer drugs to tumors. Hydrogen bonds connect the medicine and carrier. These two DDS units vary in depth and connections in acidic, basic, and neutral conditions. GQD, carboxylic, and amine functional groups interact strongly at high pH. The medicine is not released at neutral or basic places. Functional groups connecting with hydrogen ions in acidic environments weaken the medication-GQD connection. When loaded with DOX, a pH-sensitive, traceable GQD-DDS releases the drug much faster due to its lower stability [41]. An intelligent DDS based on GQDs-Fe acterized in the study above to increase the efficacy of curcumin, a non-poisonous and aquaphobic anticancer agent. Dissolving GO yielded GQDs co-precipitated with
in a single step to make the GQDs-Fe3O4nanocomposite. The nanoparticles
Fe
3O4
were easily separated using a magnet. The nanocomposite now contains folic acid
that is functionalized by folic acid was devised and char-
3O4
368 M. Emamul Kabir et al.
Fig. 12.4 Synthesis and loading of curcumin onto GQDs-Fe3O4. Reproduced with permission from Elsevier [42]
chemically linked to it via Carbodiimide/N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC/NHS) acti­vators. The release mechanism of curcumin was studied at pH values of 5.5 and 7.4 (Fig. 12.4) to delve into the pH sensitivity of the synthesized nanosystem [41].

5.3 Targeted Drug Delivery Using Ligand-Based GQDs as a Mediator

GQD has gained popularity recently due to its adaptable qualities and lower toxicity. A better solution to the problem of free medicines’ lack of specificity may be found in ligand-based cells targeting GQD-DDSs. Multiple reactive centers on the surface of GQDs allow for covalent and non-covalent conjugations with monoclonal antibodies, ligands, complement factors, vitamins, proteins, and more. Functionalizing GQDs boosts the drug’s efficiency and specificity for its intended target. Many receptors, often as many as 100 to 300 times, not less, on a normal cell surface [43], are found on the extracellular plane of tumor cells, aiding the ligand-based approach. Increased sensitivity of tumor cells to GQD-DDSs delivering ligands that conjugate to these receptors is caused by this factor. Examining the nano-bio border is crucial to compre­hend the operation of a ligand-based GQD-DDS. This requires the dynamic interplay of the tumor microenvironment, the oncogenic cells of interest, and the cellular level
Graphene Quantum Dots-based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery 369
[44]. Due to receptor-mediated endocytosis, DDS accumulates inside cancer cells after binding to the overexpressed receptor. Quantum dots with conjugated ligands on their surfaces are taken up by target cells via phagocytosis. Internalization of the GQD-DDS follows a s ignaling cascade initiated by ligand recognition. Tumor cells take up the vesicles, which carry the medication inside the cell, where it can target specific organelles and disrupt their function. This results in the dissociation of the ligand-receptor complicated [45].

5.4 Improvement of Medicines’ Pharmacological Properties Using GQDs

Any nano-conjugated drug aims to address a shortcoming of the free drug. Ther­apeutic pharmaceutical applications, including bioavailability, cellular medicine absorption, drug solubility,and cytotoxicity, can all benefit from GQDs’ varied nanos­tructure. Extensive study of GQDs has led to their use in treating cancer, diabetes, and bacterial infections.

5.5 Enhancing Cytotoxicity with GQD-DDS

Drugs used to treat cancer, such as DOX and docetaxel, can penetrate cancer cell membranes and induce cytotoxicity by suppressing vital cellular functions, including translation and replication, effectively halting the production of DNA and RNA [38]. To be more precise, these medications damage the DNA structure by inserting them­selves between two base pairs. Inside the cells, they undergo a similar reduction to radicals, becoming capable of cleaving DNA. Due to their systemic toxicity and non­specific nature, these medications have low drug solubility and severe side effects, which reduces their efficacy. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CSLM) was used to compare the fluorescence intensity of cells treated with DOX either unconjugated or conjugated with GQDs, and they found no significant difference between the two treatment groups. From the CSLM pictures, they deduced that the DDS facil­itated better drug uptake and accumulation in nuclei [ 46]. According to this study [47], GQD conjugation lowers the movement of energy free of the drug itself across the nuclear lipid bilayer, increasing accumulation. Drug-DNA interaction improves cleavage rates, but the drug-conjugated quantum dot dissociates in the cell. To get to the nuclei, the nano-drug carrier sidesteps internalization routes that cancer cells would use to block the anti-cancer medicine. Most of these agents enter cells via Receptor, clathrin-, or caveolae-mediated endocytosis and then cause cytotoxicity to tumor cells once they reach the nuclei. GQD-DOX conjugation increases cyto­toxicity [47] in two ways: via targeted drug administration and augmentation of
370 M. Emamul Kabir et al.
DNA cleavage activity. Materials, targeted cells, size and drug loading efficiency are described below based on previous studies (Table 12.2)[15].
6 Progress of GQDs for Effective and Efficient Drug
Delivery (Chirality of GQDs)
Graphene nanosheets’ aquaphobic and van der Waals connections with the sEV lipid bilayer make them favorable drug transporters for intercalation [55]. Easy adsorption of hydrophobic pharmaceuticals is made possible by graphene’s delocalized elec­tron, and hydrophilic medications can be effectuated completely onto the material. Despite this, graphene drug carriers frequently become imprisoned within the bilayer, never reaching the interior. Recent research [5658] identified interaction based on chirality between the sheets of graphene and the lipid molecules as a putative mech­anism allowing this concluding passage into the interior of the sEVs. Chirality is a fundamental property of all living organisms, [59] making it an important factor in the biomedical uses of nanoparticles (NPs) involving cellular absorption, immuno­logical response, and tissue transport [60]. Because of their low cytotoxicity, great biocompatibility [61], optical characteristics [25], and finely controlled properties related to physical and chemical, GQDs have found widespread use in biomedical applications [62]. Specifically, the zero-dimensional (0D) architecture, nanoscale dimensions, and chemical structure [63] of GQDs enabled them to exhibit excellent passive transport properties via cellular lipid membranes [61]. Furthermore, GQDs can efficiently transport a wide variety of pharmaceuticals (>90%) through pi loading and van der Waals connections; these drugs can be chemical, hydrophilic, biological, or hydrophobic [31, 64]. Since sEVs have lipid bilayers comparable to their parent cells’ membranes, one that is right-handed and chiral could be a useful tool for efficiently loading drugs/genes into sEVs via passive transport [65, 66]. Successful production of a GQD dispersion was observed, with particles ranging in size from 2–7 nm and emitting vivid yellow photoluminescence (PL, Fig. 12.5). EDC/NHS cross-connecting method was used to covalently fix L-cysteine/D-cysteine moieties to the boundaries of the carbon pieces; [67]Fig.12.5a denotes L- and D-GQDs, which are the corresponding products. TEM scans demonstrate that unmodified and modified GQDs have a similar size distribution in the 2–7 nm range (Fig. 12.5b,c) [68]. PL spectra also undergo spectral shifts simultaneously. Robust release at 520– 550 nm is seen in the pristine, L, and D-forms of GQDs when they are stimulated by photons with ex = 330 nm (Fig. 12.5d–f).
Table 12.2 Materials, targeted cells, size and drug loading efficiency. Adapted and reproduced with permission form ACS [15]
Materials; targeted cells Drug Medication
loading
GQD-Cyc-HCl;L929 cells,
BHC 0.2 mg/mL 5 5.8 50 24 50 [48]
Diameter (nm)
Drug loading pH
Drug release pH
Release % Time of
release (h)
Cell viability %
Reference
HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells
N-GQD;MCF-7 Methotrexate 10 mg/mL 7–17 7.4 7.4 60 9 80 [49]
GdGQDs;HeLa cells DOX 80 wt % 7.4 7.0 12 6 >90 [50]
FA-GQD;HeLa, A549,
DOX 68 wt % 1–4 5.5 8 >80 [51]
HEK293A
GQD-biotin;A549 DOX 16.6 wt % <5 7.4 5.3 burst 0.08 85 [52]
GQD-PEG; DOX 2.5 (mg/mL) 15 7.4 5.5 42 6 [53]
N-GQDs-APTES;nucleus DOX 10 (mg/mL) 4 5.7 42.5 24 17 [54]
GQD-RGD;U251 glioma
DOX 5(mg/mL) 3.7 5.0 40.1 72 70.9 [8]
cells
Graphene Quantum Dots-based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery 371
372 M. Emamul Kabir et al.
Fig. 12.5 Chiral GQD synthesis molecular diagrams a A little piece of the GQD graphene sheet is seen, Dispersion pictures of b D-GQD and L-GQD c captured by TEM, d original, e L-GQD, and f D-GQD dispersion photoluminescence spectra in room temperature. Photographs of the relevant dispersions under UV light with a maximum wavelength of 365 nm are included as insets in panels
d, e,andf. Reproduced with permission from American Chemical Society [56]

7 Applications of Chiral GQDs

Among the known loading technologies, the minimum invasive is incubation as a passive method of exogenous loading of medicines and harvested sEVs [69]. Passive loading effectiveness of soluble medicines is typically below 10% without the conjugation of hydrophobic moieties [70, 71]. Medication loading efficiencies of 66.3% and 64.1% for siRNA and DOX were achieved by optimizing the GQD size and ligands to maximize their chirality [58]. They initially produced chiral GQDs resulting from surface change with L/D-cysteine (L- and D-CysGQDs) using a formerly published approach to study the penetration efficiency of chiral GQDs into sEVs (Fig. 12.6a,b). L- and D-CysGQDs were found to have a distribution of sizes of 3.0–9.4 nm, as observed in images in TEM (Fig. 12.6c). The size variety of L- and D-Cys-GQDs in TEM was authenticated by AFM pictures (Fig. 12.6d). The AFM results (Fig. 12.6d) established that the thickness of L- and D-Cys-GQDs were within 2 nm, which is reliable with a layer of chiral GQDs with improved height due to helical clasping (twisting) of the pristine GQDs (1 nm). Positive and negative peaks at 236 nm were seen in the L- and D-CysGQDs CD spectra, respectively (Fig. 12.6e). In addition, they exhibited some loosening of exciton confinement[56]. Charge trans­port between the graphene carbon core and functional groups of GQDs narrows the band gap [72, 73], causing a redshift of 26 nm. Confocal microscopy revealed that
Graphene Quantum Dots-based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery 373
chiral GQDs had entered sEVs when their inherent fluorescence (at about 525 nm, denoted as blue) accumulated within the cells. Under the same sEVs concentra­tion (108 particles/mL), right-handed chirality Cys-GQDs (D-Cys-GQDs) displayed a substantially larger density of blue dots (the aggregation of GQDs) compared to achiral R-Cys-GQDs and left-handed L-Cys-GQDs (Fig. 12.6f). Accumulation and permeation of D-Cys-GQDs in the sEVs were revealed by the colocalization of D-Cys-GQDs (blue) and PHK26-labeled sEVs (red) in Fig. 12.6g. To sum up, the amount of GQD-loaded sEVs (blue dots larger than 30 nm as a threshold) was compared to the total counts of sEVs via nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) to establish the permeation efficiency of GQDs in sEVs (Fig. 12.6h). Importantly, TEM and NTA data show that the size and shape of sEVs were unchanged after the loading operation by D-Cys-GQDs (Fig. 12.6i). D-Cys-GQDs were found to have a greater tendency to permeate mammalian cells’ cellular lipid membrane than L-Cys-GQDs, consistent with prior findings via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation [56].
8 Applications of GQDs-Based Nanomaterials for Drug
Delivery
Researchers have used confocal-type fluorescence microscopy to visualize chiral GQD’s colocalization (blue), sEVs (membrane dye in green), and Dox (red) to eval­uate drug l oading via sEVs. To load the chemotherapeutic medication doxorubicin (Dox) onto sEVs. D-Cys-GQDs. A schematic shows how D-Cys-GQDs make loading with Dox easier for sEVs (Fig. 12.7a). Reducing efficiency and fluorescence spectra (max = 360 nm) were used to characterize the direct addition of Dox (200 M) onto the D-Cys-GQDs (7.5–22) (Fig. 12.7b). In confocal pictures, Dox lowered the signal strength of the blue signals corresponding to the distinct GQDs changes due to the FRET effect. Thus, chiral-GQDs/Dox complex permeability was examined using the red Dox channel (Fig. 12.7c). Based on liposome formulation, sEV drug loading efficiency is the percentage of active sEVsencapsulating medications [73]. D-Cys-GQDs loaded into sEVs more efficiently (66.7 9.5%) than L-Cys/Dox (18.3
6.7%). R-Cys-GQDs/Dox exhibited the lowest loading efficiency (15.2% 6.3%) of
any sample (Fig. 12.7d). A control group of sEVs with conventionally sonicated Dox was also created. Confocal fluorescence microscopy (Fig. 12.7c) demonstrated that conventional sonication (14.5 7.9%) stacks poorly. D-Cys-GQD drug loading did not significantly change sEV size or cell integrity. They treated 3T3 cells with sEVs­Dox for 24 h in vitro and compared them to a control group treated with free Dox to determine if they could take up D-Cys-GQDs/Dox-loaded sEVs. Dox is thought to exert its impacts via the embolism of DNA and protein-DNA interactions in repli­cation and transcription [74]. Dox signals (red) in confocal images showed that Dox molecules entered cells and aggregated in the nucleus (Fig. 12.7e). D-Cys-GQDs (blue) were mostly in the cytoplasm of cells, showing that Dox was released from the complex without a drug release mechanism. These benefits enable compact and
374 M. Emamul Kabir et al.
Fig. 12.6 a The theory behind i mproving medication loading into sEVs with chiral GQDs. b Asym­metric nanopore membrane (ANM) images captured by TEM of isolated sEVs. c TEM images of R-, l-, and d-Cys-GQDs, and TEM characterization of d-Cys-GQDs after 1 week of sample prepa­ration. d AFM, and e circular dichroism (CD). f A confocal microscope analysis was performed at room temperature to assess the permeation of chiral GQDs (blue) into sEVs. Under the guid­ance of a 100 kDa centrifuge tube, samples were generated by incubating 7.5 M achiral or chiral GQDs with 3T3 sEVs (1.0 109 particles/mL), followed by four washes in PBS (4 °C). After expo­sure to d-Cys-GQDs (blue), PHK26-labeled sEVs were imaged using confocal microscopy (red). g After being exposed to d-Cys-GQDs (blue), PHK26-labeled sEVs were imaged using confocal microscopy (red). h The percentage of sEVs loaded with GQDs (blue) relative to the total number of sEVs was used to calculate the infusion efficiency. i Using nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), the distribution of size and number of particles of GQD-loaded sEVs were determined. Reproduced with permission from the American Chemical Society [58]
versatile drug-release monitoring devices [75]. Then, researchers looked at sEVs­Dox’s capacity to stop the spread of cancer cells in the lab. Negative controls include untreated cells, cells got treatment with control sEVs, and D-Cys-GQDs mixed with free Dox. sEVs-Dox was used to treat cervical cancer (HeLa) cells and human hepa­tocellular carcinoma (HepG2) for 24 h. The CCK-8 test was used to determine the