Development of Non-Toxic Carbon Dots as Bone-Specific Carrier for Drug Delivery

本项目加深了我们对碳点(C点)在生物系统中应用的物理和化学性质的理解。C-点的大小、形态、表面化学和制备方法决定了C-点与生物组织的相互作用。从碳粉中提取的C-点的独特之处在于，它们与矿化的骨骼具有高度的亲和力和特异性。通过表征这些C-点独特的骨结合特性的物理和化学性质，这个项目将促进我们对C-点与矿化组织之间相互作用的理解。这是朝着开发C-Dot作为骨成像和诊断工具的关键一步，并用于治疗和修复可能影响美国健康的骨折和退行性疾病(例如骨质疏松症)。此外，这项工作将支持对研究生和本科生的培训，促进基于探究的研究和科学合作，这对于发展蓬勃发展的美国科学劳动力所需的技能至关重要。本工作的目的是了解碳纳米颗粒(C-Dot)的物理和化学性质，为其作为骨特异性药物载体的开发奠定基础。C-DOTS是一类新兴的纳米材料，其在成像、诊断和治疗方面的生物学应用取决于其大小、分子结构和来源材料。由碳粉合成的一类特殊的C-点具有与体内矿化骨结合的独特性质。为了促进我们对C-点与矿化组织之间相互作用的了解，该项目将(1)确定C-点与矿化骨骼的高亲和力和特异性相关的内在化学和物理性质，(2)确定不同的表面功能如何影响C-点与矿化骨之间的相互作用，以及(3)从功能上测试C-点向骨骼输送药物的能力。通过表征C-点独特的骨结合特性，这项工作不仅将揭示使C-点与骨骼结合的物理化学原理，而且还将识别需要将新的纳米材料靶向矿化组织而排除其他组织的分子原理。因此，这项工作的发现将对纳米材料化学和工程以及促进骨成像和诊断工具的开发，以修复和治疗骨骼骨折和退行性疾病具有广泛的智力影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

NON-TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThis project advances our understanding of Carbon dots (C-dots) physical and chemical properties for their application in biological systems. Size, morphology, surface chemistry and method of preparation govern how C-dots interact with biological tissues. C-dots derived from carbon powder are unique in that they bind to mineralized bones with high affinity and specificity. By characterizing the physical and chemical properties that confer these C-dots their unique bone-binding properties, this project will advance our understanding of the interactions between C-dots and mineralized tissues. This is an essential step towards developing C-dots as tools for bone imaging and diagnostic tools, and for the treatment and repair of bone fractures and degenerative diseases (e.g., osteoporosis) that would impact US health. Additionally, this work will support the training of graduate and undergraduate students, fostering inquiry-based research and scientific collaboration essential to develop the skills needed in a thriving US scientific workforce. TECHNICAL ABSTRACTThe goal of this work is to understand the physical and chemical properties of Carbon nanoparticles (C-dots) for their development as bone-specific drug carriers. C-dots are a new emerging class of nanomaterials whose biological applications in imaging, diagnostics and therapeutics critically depend on their size, molecular structure and material of origin. One particular class of C-dots synthesized from carbon powder have the unique property of binding to mineralized bones in vivo. To advance our understanding of the interactions between C-dots and mineralized tissues this project will (1) determine the intrinsic chemical and physical properties of C-dots that are related to their high affinity and specificity towards mineralized bones, (2) determine how different surface functionalities influence the interactions between C-dots and mineralized bones, and (3) functionally test the ability of C-dots to deliver drugs to bones. By characterizing C-dots' unique bone binding properties, this work will not only uncover the physicochemical principles that allow C-dots binding to bones, but will also discern the molecular principles need to target new nanomaterials to mineralized tissue at the exclusion of other tissues. Thus, the findings of this work will have broad intellectual implications for nanomaterial chemistry and engineering, as well as advancing the development of bone imaging and diagnostic tools for the repair and treatment of bone fractures and degenerative diseases.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.