Design and Preparation of Photoluminescent Nanoparticles based on Chimeric Peptides- Graphene Quantum Dots for Nuclear Drug Delivery and Tracking

​One of the main challenges in the treatment of genetic disorders, such as cancer, is of drug delivery systems and their inability to monitor and track delivered drug to the targeted site. Therefore, the design of novel with dual capabilities of nuclear drug delivery and tracking into a research priority for this field’s The aim of this study is to design based on both non-cytotoxic quantum dots and chimeric peptides, with dual tracking and delivering small genetic agents into the nucleus. The GQDs with green emission color were synthesized by Hummer’s and methods and characterized by UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopies, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). conjugated with MPG-2H1 chimeric peptides through noncovalent interactions. Following conjugation step, the ζ-potential of the complex increased (From -38.6 to -11.1 in complex1, -9.6 in complex2 and -5.74 in complex3). The conjugation was confirmed by native acrylamide gel retardation assay. The of the GQDs was investigated by MTT assay and finally, was carried out. The results showed that MPG-2H1/ GQD complexes can enter cells; however, free-GQDs didn’t enter the cells significantly.