Layer-by-layer quantum dots-based nanotheranostics: combined drug delivery and breast cancer imaging

该项目将使用逐层技术将抗癌药物结合到碳量子点的表面，用于成像和治疗目的。该项目将从文献综述开始，以确定合成碳点的最佳方法。碳点将来自生物质，而生物质将来自可再生资源，如食物或农业废物(坚果壳、咖啡/茶叶废物)。在选择初始生物质材料时必须仔细考虑；不同的生物质会改变所产生的碳点的性质。杂原子含量高的生物质可以在Cd中掺杂相应的杂原子。羽毛就是一个例子，它们会产生掺入硫和氮的碳点，这会导致更高的量子产率。生物质将通过热化学方法(热解、水热、冷等离子体技术或两者相结合)转化为碳点。合成将是一个两步反应，产生不需要任何进一步钝化的碳点；最初，咖啡渣将被用作碳源。用扫描电子显微镜-能谱分析(SEM-EDX)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、表面分析(FTIR)、晶体结构分析(XRD)、紫外可见光谱(UV-Vis)、光致发光、元素分析(XPS)和拉曼光谱(Stokes Shift)等方法对碳点进行了表征。我们在碳点中寻找的性能是水溶性、宽的斯托克斯位移、高量子产率、窄且可调的发射波长、抗光漂白和可调尺寸。然后，单个碳量子点将通过一层一层的组装来功能化。将使用工程学院最近开发的设备(图4)。该设备是浸渍和逐层喷涂策略的混合体。制成的纳米涂层将嵌入标准的抗癌药物(塞来昔布或雷帕霉素，从塞来昔布开始)。LBL组件将使用FE-SEM进行形态评估，并通过FTIR和XPS进行化学评估。从逐层官能化来进行有效的癌症治疗所需的功能是：对量子点光致发光没有影响或增强效应，靶向癌细胞，药物在癌细胞内释放并且没有有害影响，或者增强药物治疗能力。这些抗癌药物将在Biolab和BIOFAB实验室的生理条件下通过光谱分析(UV-VIS)进行监测。初步的体外细胞测试将与癌症研究所合作进行，以测试纳米功能化量子点的效果。我希望在这个项目中回答的问题是：1.通过逐层工艺合成的碳量子点是否可以功能化？2.最好的逐层试剂和工艺是什么？3.功能化的碳点可以用作纳米抗癌试剂吗？4.使用什么是最好的抗癌药物？

The project will use a layer by layer technique to incorporate anti-cancer drugs to the surface of carbon quantum dots for both imaging and treatment purposes.This project will start with a review of literature to determine the best way to synthesise carbon dots. The carbon dots will originate from biomass that will be obtained from renewable sources such as food or agricultural wastes (nut shells, coffee/tea waste). Careful consideration will have to be taken in choosing the initial biomass material; different biomass can change the properties of the resulting carbon dots. Biomass with high heteroatom content can dope the CD with the respective heteroatom. An example of this is feathers, they produce carbon dots doped with sulphur and nitrogen, this results in higher quantum yield. The biomass will be converted to carbon dots by thermo chemical means (pyrolysis, hydrothermal, cold plasma technology or a combination). The synthesis will be a two-step reaction that produces carbon dots that do not need any further passivation; initially, coffee grounds will be used as the carbon source. The carbon dots will be characterised by; SEM-EDX (size and elemental analysis), TEM (size analysis), FTIR (surface analysis), XRD (crystal structure), UV-Vis (wavelength emission analysis), photoluminescence, XPS (elemental analysis) and Raman Spectroscopy (stokes shift analysis) methods. The properties we are looking for in the carbon dots to make good imaging agents are water solubility, broad stokes shifts, high quantum yield, narrow and tuneable emission wavelength, resistance to photobleaching and tuneable size.Single carbon quantum dots will then be functionalised by a layer by layer assembly. Recently developed equipment by the school of engineering will be used (Fig 4). The equipment is hybrid of dipping and spray layer by layer strategies. The nanocoated created will be embedded with standard anticancer drugs (celecoxib or rapamycin, starting with celecoxib). The LbL assemblies will be assessed morphologically using FE-SEM and chemically by FTIR and XPS. The functionality that is needed from the layer by layer functionalisation to make an effective treatment for cancer are: no effect or an enhancing effect on the quantum dot photoluminescence, targeting for cancer cells, release of the drug inside the cancer cell and no detrimental effect, or, an enhancing effect on drug treatment capabilities. The anti-cancer drugs will be monitored in physiological conditions at the BIOLAB and BIOFAB laboratories by using spectroscopy analyses (UV-Vis). Preliminary in vitro cell tests on testing the effects of the nano-functionalised quantum dots will be performed in collaboration with the Cancer Institute. The questions that I wish to answer in this project are:1. Can the carbon quantum dot synthesised be functionalised via a layer by layer process? 2. Was is the best layer by layer agent and process to use?3. Can the functionalised carbon dots be used as a nanotheranostic agent?4. What is the best anti-cancer drug to use?