PUBLICATION

Photoluminescent graphene quantum dots for in vivo imaging of apoptotic cells

Authors
Roy, P., Periasamy, A.P., Lin, C., Her, G., Chiu, W., Li, C., Shu, C., Huang, C., Liang, C., Chang, H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-150109-2
Date
2015
Source
Nanoscale   7(6): 2504-10 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Her, Guor Muor
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Annexin A5/chemistry
  • Apoptosis*
  • Biocompatible Materials/chemistry
  • Cell Survival
  • Female
  • Graphite/chemistry*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Luminescence
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Nanotechnology/methods
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Photochemistry/methods
  • Plant Leaves/chemistry*
  • Quantum Dots*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
25569453 Full text @ Nanoscale
Abstract
Apoptosis (programmed cell death) is linked to many incurable neurodegenerative, cardiovascular and cancer causing diseases. Numerous methods have been developed for imaging apoptotic cells in vitro; however, there are few methods available for imaging apoptotic cells in live animals (in vivo). Here we report a novel method utilizing the unique photoluminescence properties of plant leaf-derived graphene quantum dots (GQDs) modified with annexin V antibody (AbA5) to form (AbA5)-modified GQDs (AbA5-GQDs) enabling us to label apoptotic cells in live zebrafish (Danio rerio). The key is that zebrafish shows bright red photoluminescence in the presence of apoptotic cells. The toxicity of the GQDs has also been investigated with the GQDs exhibiting high biocompatibility as they were excreted from the zebrafish's body without affecting its growth significantly at a concentration lower than 2 mg mL(-1) over a period of 4 to 72 hour post fertilization. The GQDs have further been used to image human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7 cells), human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cells), and normal human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF-10A). These results are indispensable to further the advance of graphene-based nanomaterials for biomedical applications.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping