Simultaneous Gene Delivery and Tracking through Preparation of Photo-Luminescent Nanoparticles Based on Graphene Quantum Dots and Chimeric Peptides

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 25;7(1):9552. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09890-y.

Abstract

Designing suitable nano-carriers for simultaneous gene delivery and tracking is in the research priorities of the molecular medicine. Non-toxic graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with two different (green and red) emission colors are synthesized by Hummer's method and characterized by UV-Vis, Photoluminescence (PL), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The GQDs are conjugated with MPG-2H1 chimeric peptide and plasmid DNA (pDNA) by non-covalent interactions. Following conjugation, the average diameter of the prepared GQDs increased from 80 nm to 280 nm in complex structure, and the ζ-potential of the complex increased (from -36.87 to -2.56 mV). High transfection efficiency of the nano-carrier and results of confocal microscopy demonstrated that our construct can be considered as a nontoxic carrier with dual functions for gene delivery and nuclear targeting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Graphite* / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles* / ultrastructure
  • Peptides* / chemistry
  • Plasmids
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Peptides
  • Graphite