Preparation, characterization and in vitro anticancer performance of nanoconjugate based on carbon quantum dots and 5-Fluorouracil

Abstract This study is focused on the development of a nanodevice for loading and release of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) with a view to improving its therapeutic efficiency, using as strategy the fabrication of a nanoconjugate through drug anchorage on the surface of carbon quantum dots (CQD). Several physicochemical and analytical techniques were employed to obtain information about materials morphology, structure, and optical properties. The results indicated that the interactions between both entities resulted in good physicochemical properties and photostability. Acid pH favored drug release, indicating a tendency to release 5-FU from 5-FU-CQD into the tumor microenvironment. The cytotoxicity of CQD and 5-FU-CQD nanoconjugate was evaluated against normal human lung fibroblast (GM07492A) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. The CQD was non-toxic, indicating that these materials are biocompatible and can be used as a nanocarrier for 5-FU in biological systems. For the 5-FU-CQD nanoconjugate, it was observed a reduction in toxicity for normal cells compared to free 5-FU, suggesting that drug anchoring in CQD reduced drug-associated toxicity, while for cancer cells exhibited an antitumor effect equivalent to that of the free drug, opening perspectives for the application of this material in anticancer therapy.