Our recent study on Graphene Quantum Dot Mesoporous Silica Nanohybrids for Image Guided Tumor Regression has been featured on the cover page of ACS Applied Bio Materials. In this study the interaction between designed graphene quantum dots embedded in mesoporous silica and a solid tumor environment has been examined under nonionized light irradiation. A rapid accumulation with strong retention of fabricated nanohybrids is achieved with a single-dose administration, followed by image-guided tumor abrogation.
So far, near-infrared (NIR) light responsive nanostructures have been well-defined in cancer nanomedicine. However, poor penetration and retention in tumors are the limiting factors. Here, we report the ultrahigh penetration and retention of carbanosilica (graphene quantum dots, GQDs embedded mesoporous silica) in solid tumors. After NIR light exposure, quick (0.5 h) emission from the tumor area is observed that is further retained up to a week (tested up to 10 days) with a single dose administration of nanohybrids. Emissive and photothermally active GQDs and porous silica shell (about 31% drug loading) make carbanosilica a promising nanotheranostic agent exhibiting 68.75% tumor shrinking compared to without NIR light exposure (34.48%). Generated heat (∼52 °C) alters the permeability of tumor enhancing the accumulation of nanotheranostics into the tumor environment. Successive tumor imaging ensures the prolonged follow-up of image guided tumor regression due to synergistic therapeutic effect of nanohybrids.