Aim: We aim to develop folic acid (FA)-conjugated cationic Ag₂S near-infrared quantum dots (NIRQDs) for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) selectively to folate receptor (FR)-positive cancer cells to achieve enhanced drug efficacy and optical tracking in the NIR region. Materials & methods: Cationic Ag₂S NIRQDs were decorated with FA using a PEG bridge and loaded with DOX. In vitro studies were performed on FR-positive human cervical carcinoma cells and FR-negative A549 cells. Results: Significantly higher uptake of DOX by human cervical carcinoma cells cells and a greater therapeutic effect along with a strong intracellular optical signal were obtained with DOX-loaded FA-conjugated Ag₂S NIRQDs. Conclusion: These Ag₂S NIRQDs are promising theranostic nanoparticles for receptor-mediated delivery of DOX with enhanced drug efficacy combined with optical imaging.

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Published online 6 September 2017

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank G Simsek (KUYTAM, Koc University, Istanbul, Turkey) for her assistance in ICP-MS measurements.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was financially sponsored by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (grant number 113Z164) and Uludag University (project BUAP(F)-2014/3). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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Folic acid-conjugated cationic Ag2S quantum dots for optical imaging and selective doxorubicin delivery to HeLa cells

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References

Folic acid-conjugated cationic Ag₂S quantum dots for optical imaging and selective doxorubicin delivery to HeLa cells