{"title":"Single-Molecule Graphene Quantum Dot: a Novel Efficient Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Cancer Therapy","authors":"Jintao Chen, Shiru Yin, futing Yang, Shengnan Guo, Jiaojiao Zhang, Zhenming Lu, Tian Gao","doi":"10.1039/d5sc03226a","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can efficiently generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation, demonstrating significant potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. However, GQDs are often multicomponent mixtures with highly complex structures, which significantly hinders their clinical applications. Therefore, it is urgent to design and synthesize well-defined GQDs with excellent PDT performance. In this work, a novel single-molecule hydrophilic pure graphene quantum dot (HPGQD), containing 132 sp² conjugated carbon atoms, was prepared through an organic synthetic route using single-benzene-ring molecules as precursors. The HPGQD features a unique D-12A structure, comprising one large electron donor center and 12 electron acceptors, which grants it exceptional ROS release capabilities with a singlet oxygen (<small><sup>1</sup></small>O<small><sub>2</sub></small>) quantum yield of 0.85. Notably, under light irradiation, HPGQD can rapidly generate abundant ROS within 30 s and scavenge them after 10 min, which holds promise for eliminating the need for prolonged light avoidance in patients undergoing PDT. It has been successfully applied to both <em>in vitro</em> (IC<small><sub>50</sub></small>: 0.22 μmol L<small><sup>-1</sup></small>) and <em>in vivo</em> (tumor weight inhibition rate: 71%) PDT for cancer treatment. The innovative design, synthesis, and PDT application of single-molecule HPGQD pave towards accelerated clinical applications of carbon nanomaterials, advancing the frontier of nanotherapeutic research.","PeriodicalId":9909,"journal":{"name":"Chemical Science","volume":"36 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Chemical Science","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5sc03226a","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) can efficiently generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) under light irradiation, demonstrating significant potential for photodynamic therapy (PDT) applications. However, GQDs are often multicomponent mixtures with highly complex structures, which significantly hinders their clinical applications. Therefore, it is urgent to design and synthesize well-defined GQDs with excellent PDT performance. In this work, a novel single-molecule hydrophilic pure graphene quantum dot (HPGQD), containing 132 sp² conjugated carbon atoms, was prepared through an organic synthetic route using single-benzene-ring molecules as precursors. The HPGQD features a unique D-12A structure, comprising one large electron donor center and 12 electron acceptors, which grants it exceptional ROS release capabilities with a singlet oxygen (1O2) quantum yield of 0.85. Notably, under light irradiation, HPGQD can rapidly generate abundant ROS within 30 s and scavenge them after 10 min, which holds promise for eliminating the need for prolonged light avoidance in patients undergoing PDT. It has been successfully applied to both in vitro (IC50: 0.22 μmol L-1) and in vivo (tumor weight inhibition rate: 71%) PDT for cancer treatment. The innovative design, synthesis, and PDT application of single-molecule HPGQD pave towards accelerated clinical applications of carbon nanomaterials, advancing the frontier of nanotherapeutic research.
期刊介绍:
Chemical Science is a journal that encompasses various disciplines within the chemical sciences. Its scope includes publishing ground-breaking research with significant implications for its respective field, as well as appealing to a wider audience in related areas. To be considered for publication, articles must showcase innovative and original advances in their field of study and be presented in a manner that is understandable to scientists from diverse backgrounds. However, the journal generally does not publish highly specialized research.