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Recent Advances on Graphene Quantum Dots as Multifunctional Nanoplatforms for Cancer Treatment
  • Daniela Iannazzo,
  • Consuelo Celesti,
  • Claudia Espro
Daniela Iannazzo
University of Messina

Corresponding Author:diannazzo@unime.it

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Consuelo Celesti
University of Messina
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Claudia Espro
University of Messina
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Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), the latest member of graphene family, have attracted outstanding interest in the last few years, due to their outstanding physical, chemical, electrical, optical and biological properties. Their strong size-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and the presence of many reactive groups on the graphene surface allow their multimodal conjugation with therapeutic agents, targeting ligands, polymers, light responsive agents, fluorescent dyes, and functional nanoparticles, making them valuable agents for cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the very recent advances covering the last three years on the applications of GQDs as drug delivery systems (DDS) and theranostic tools for anticancer therapy are discussed, highlighting the relevant factors which regulate their biocompatibility. Among these factors, the size, kind and degree of surface functionalization have shown to greatly affect their use in biological systems. Toxicity issues, which still represent an open challenge for the clinical development of GQDs based therapeutic agents, are also discussed at cellular and animal levels.
30 Apr 2020Submitted to Biotechnology Journal
05 May 2020Submission Checks Completed
05 May 2020Assigned to Editor
07 May 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
09 Jun 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
11 Jun 20201st Revision Received
15 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
15 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
15 Jun 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
23 Jun 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
15 Jul 2020Published in Biotechnology Journal on pages 1900422. 10.1002/biot.201900422