Sulphur-doped carbon dots as a highly efficient nano-photodynamic agent against oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a novel non-invasive therapeutic method, which has been widely applied for the treatment of human oral cancers. However, the problems of undesirable singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) quantum yields and long-term phototoxicity were inevitable during the application of traditional photosensitizers. Therefore, it is necessary to explore novel photosensitizers for the improvement of therapeutic effects. In our study, the sulphur-doped carbon dots (S-CDs) of high yield of singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) were synthesized as a nano-photosensitizer for OSCC to improve the PDT efficacy in clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

After synthesis of the novel S-CDs, the size, morphologic characteristics, surface potential and yield of singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) were determined. In vitro study was performed to compare the therapeutic effect as well as the biocompatibility of the novel S-CDs to those of 5-ALA. Besides, possible mechanism of action was illustrated.

RESULTS:

After synthesis of the novel S-CDs, the size, morphologic characteristics, surface potential and yield of singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) were determined. In vitro study was performed to compare the therapeutic effect as well as the biocompatibility of the novel S-CDs to those of 5-ALA. Besides, possible mechanism of action was illustrated.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data from the in vitro study demonstrated the promising safety profile of the low dose (nmol/L) S-CDs, which indicated the novel S-CDs could be used as a promising photodynamic agent for oral cancer therapy.

• Authors: Qirong Li, Ronghui Zhou, Yu Xie, Yanjing Li, Yu Chen, Xiaoxiao Cai
• Journal: Cell proliferation (Cell Prolif) Vol. 53 Issue 4 Pg. e12786 (Apr 2020) ISSN: 1365-2184 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32301195 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Cell Proliferation Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Photosensitizing Agents
• Sulfur
• Carbon

Topics

• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Carbon (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell (drug therapy, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Humans
• Models, Molecular
• Mouth Neoplasms (drug therapy, pathology)
• Nanoparticles (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Photochemotherapy
• Photosensitizing Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Sulfur (chemistry, pharmacology)