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 ¹ O₂ quantum yield, is reported. Meanwhile, Gd@GCNs afford strong fluorescence and high T₁ relaxivity (1

SUBMITTER: Chen H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6435436 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature