Biocompatible Graphene Quantum Dots for Noninvasive Near-infrared Bioimaging

项目摘要/摘要 近红外(NIR)成像是近年来发展最迅速的透视成像技术之一 生物医学诊断使组织成像深度达到常规可见光的10-100倍 荧光技术。临床上对这种成像有很大的需求：高深度CT和 核磁共振成像策略复杂，不太适用于低深度生物传感和术中 申请。此外，在动物研究中，近红外成像可以实现原位荧光跟踪 在活着的小动物体内测试的治疗方法或肿瘤的可视化。然而，由于近红外成像 该领域仍在发展中，缺乏适合的生物兼容和多功能平台 在动物研究中，成像、传感甚至药物传输都是非常需要的。 在这个项目中，我们将开发和测试一种新型的基于 石墨烯量子点(GQD)满足近红外生物成像的关键需求：荧光 近红外(950 nm以上)具有近红外激发、高生物相容性、光稳定性和性能 用于药物示踪和活体动物模型的近红外成像。这将分3个步骤实施： (1)采用自下而上和自上而下的方法合成了近红外发光GQD，并进行了表征 它们的光学和物理性质，(2)用于体外近红外成像的GQD测试和评估其 生物相容性和(3)活体动物GQD近红外荧光成像 作为体外器官组织成像，量化切除器官中的GQD含量。我们将相伴而行 评估潜在的不良反应以选择无毒的GQD候选者。在整个过程中，各种 合成的GQD结构将经过严格的3步筛选，以获得(1)高性能 产生近红外荧光，(2)高生物相容性和细胞内的近红外成像，(3)活体内的近红外成像 有镇静作用的动物，毒性最小/没有。选定的GQD候选对象将使活体动物 使用非侵入性实时图像跟踪测试治疗交付，减少了 动物被牺牲了。从长远来看，我们预计这些GQD平台将成为 患者体内的无创近红外传感。因此，拟议的倡议将解决几个问题 生物技术的重要领域及其发展最终将有助于 改善人类健康。

Project Summary/Abstract Near-infrared (NIR) imaging is one of the most rapidly developing perspective techniques in biomedical diagnostics enabling 10 - 100 times deeper tissue imaging than regular visible fluorescence techniques. There is a significant clinical need for such imaging: high-depth CT and MRI imaging strategies are complex and less suitable for low-depth biosensing and intraoperative applications. Furthermore, in animal studies NIR imaging can enable in situ fluorescence tracking of tested therapeutics or tumor visualization inside a living small animal. However, as NIR imaging field is still developing, there is a lack of biocompatible and multifunctional platforms suitable for imaging, sensing and even drug transport highly desired in animal studies. In this project we will develop and test the feasibility of a novel NIR imaging platform based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) addressing the critical needs of NIR bioimaging: fluorescence in the NIR (above 950 nm) with NIR excitation, high biocompatibility, photostability, and capabilities for drug tracing and in vivo NIR imaging in live animal models. This will be implemented in 3 steps: (1) synthesizing NIR-emissive GQDs via bottom-up and top-down approaches and characterizing their optical and physical properties, (2) testing GQDs for NIR in vitro imaging and assessing their biocompatibility and (3) performing in vivo imaging of GQD NIR fluorescence in live animals as well as ex vivo organ tissue imaging quantifying GQD content in excised organs. We will concomitantly assess potential adverse effects to select non-toxic GQD candidates. Throughout this process a variety of synthesized GQD structures will undergo rigorous 3-step selection for the capabilities of (1) high yield NIR fluorescence, (2) high biocompatibility and NIR imaging in cells, (3) NIR imaging inside a live sedated animal with minimal/no toxicity. The selected GQD candidates will enable in vivo animal testing of therapeutic delivery with noninvasive real-time image tracking reducing the number of animals sacrificed. In a longer term, we expect these GQD platforms to become a basis of the noninvasive NIR in vivo sensing in patients. As a result, the proposed initiative will address several significant areas of biotechnology and its development will ultimately contribute to the improvement of human health.