Graphene quantum dots: From efficient preparation to safe renal excretion

• Published in: Nano research Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 674 - 683
• Main Authors: Hadad, Caroline, González-Domínguez, José Miguel, Armelloni, Silvia, Mattinzoli, Deborah, Ikehata, Masami, Istif, Akcan, Ostric, Adrian, Cellesi, Francesco, Alfieri, Carlo Maria, Messa, Piergiorgio, Ballesteros, Belén, Da Ros, Tatiana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Tsinghua University Press 01-03-2021; Springer Nature B.V; Springer
• Subjects: Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biocompatibility; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Caveolae; Chemical compounds; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Excretion; Fluorescence; Graphene; Internalization; Kidneys; Life Sciences; Lysosomes; Materials Science; Nanomaterials; Nanotechnology; Pharmacokinetics; Pharmacology; Quantum dots; Renal function; Research Article; Ultrafiltration; nanocarrier; biodistribution; renal clearance; graphene quantum dots; podocytes; uptake pathway
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-020-3096-y

Carbon nanomaterials offer excellent prospects as therapeutic agents, and among them, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained considerable interest thanks to their aqueous solubility and intrinsic fluorescence, which enable their possible use in theranostic approaches, if their biocompatibility and favorable pharmacokinetic are confirmed. We prepared ultra-small GQDs using an alternative, reproducible, top-down synthesis starting from graphene oxide with a nearly 100% conversion. The materials were tested to assess their safety, demonstrating good biocompatibility and ability in passing the ultrafiltration barrier using an
in vitro
model. This leads to renal excretion without affecting the kidneys. Moreover, we studied the GQDs
in vivo
biodistribution confirming their efficient renal clearance, and we demonstrated that the internalization mechanism into podocytes is caveolae-mediated. Therefore, considering the reported characteristics, it appears possible to vehiculate compounds to kidneys by means of GQDs, overcoming problems related to lysosomal degradation.