Tryptophan-sorbitol based carbon quantum dots for theranostics against hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite novel advances in screening, targeting and immunotherapies, early diagnosis and satisfactory treatments against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain formidable challenges. Given the unique advantages, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) become a smart theranostic nanomaterial for cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Results

In this work, a type of bio-friendly CQDs, trichrome-tryptophan-sorbitol CQDs (TC-WS-CQDs), is synthesized from natural biocompatible tryptophan via the one-pot hydrothermal method. Compared with normal hepatocytes, a much stronger green fluorescence is detected in HCC cells, indicating the ability of TC-WS-CQDs to target HCC cells. Furthermore, green-emitting TC-WS-CQDs generate large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to autophagy of HCC cells. Additionally, the green-emitting TC-WS-CQDs perform significant tumor inhibition by inducing autophagy via p53-AMPK pathway in vitro and in vivo studies with almost no systemic toxicity.

Conclusions

The results may highlight a promising anticancer nanotheranostic strategy with integration of diagnosis, targeting, and therapy.

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8842979 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature