Gadolinium‐Encapsulated Graphene Carbon Nanotheranostics for Imaging‐Guided Photodynamic Therapy
Abstract
Photosensitizers (PS) are an essential component of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Conventional PSs are often porphyrin derivatives, which are associated with high hydrophobicity, low quantum yield in aqueous solutions, and suboptimal tumor‐to‐normal‐tissue (T/N) selectivity. There have been extensive efforts to load PSs into nanoparticle carriers to improve pharmacokinetics. The approach, however, is often limited by PS self‐quenching, pre‐mature release, and nanoparticle accumulation in the reticuloendothelial system organs. Herein, a novel, nanoparticle‐based PS made of gadolinium‐encapsulated graphene carbon nanoparticles (Gd@GCNs), which feature a high 1O2 quantum yield, is reported. Meanwhile, Gd@GCNs afford strong fluorescence and high T1 relaxivity (16.0 × 10−3m−1 s−1, 7 T), making them an intrinsically dual‐modal imaging probe. Having a size of approximately 5 nm, Gd@GCNs can accumulate in tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. The unbound Gd@GCNs cause little toxicity because Gd is safely encapsulated within an inert carbon shell and because the particles are efficiently excreted from the host through renal clearance. Studies with rodent tumor models demonstrate the potential of the Gd@GCNs to mediate image‐guided PDT for cancer treatment. Overall, the present study shows that Gd@GCNs possess unique physical, pharmaceutical, and toxicological properties and are an all‐in‐one nanotheranostic tool with substantial clinical translation potential.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jul 23, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1002/adma.201802748
Entities
People
- Dandan Ding
- Daye Lee
- Gang Liu
- Geoffrey D. Wang
- Hongmin Chen
- Huirong Lin
- Jin Xie
- Weicheng Huang
- Weizhong Zhang
- Wenjing Sun
- Xiaoyuan Chen
- Yuwei Qiu
Organizations
- Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
- Harbin Institute of Technology
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
- National Institutes of Health
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Science Foundation
- Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province
- University of Georgia
- Xiamen University