Photoluminescent carbon nanotags from harmful cyanobacteria for drug delivery and imaging in cancer cells

Sci Rep. 2014 Apr 11:4:4665. doi: 10.1038/srep04665.

Abstract

Using a simple method of mass production of green carbon nanotags (G-tags) from harmful cyanobacteria, we developed an advanced and efficient imaging platform for the purpose of anticancer therapy. Approximately 100 grams of G-tags per 100 kilograms of harmful cyanobacteria were prepared using our eco-friendly approach. The G-tags possess high solubility, excellent photostability, and low cytotoxicity (<1.5 mg/mL for 24 h). Moreover, doxorubicin-conjugated G-tags (T-tags; >0.1 mg/mL) induced death in cancer cells (HepG2 and MCF-7) in-vitro at a higher rate than that of only G-tags while in-vivo mice experiment showed enhanced anticancer efficacy by T-tags at 0.01 mg/mL, indicating that the loaded doxorubicin retains its pharmaceutical activity. The cancer cell uptake and intracellular location of the G- and T-tags were observed. The results indicate that these multifunctional T-tags can deliver doxorubicin to the targeted cancer cells and sense the delivery of doxorubicin by activating the fluorescence of G-tags.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • CHO Cells
  • COS Cells
  • Carbon / chemistry*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cricetinae
  • Cricetulus
  • Cyanobacteria / metabolism
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Transplantation, Heterologous

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Drug Carriers
  • Carbon
  • Doxorubicin