Background: Although graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have received considerable research attention for their applications in various fields, the use of GQDs, such as nitrogen-doped GQDs (N-GQDs) and amino-functionalized N-GQDs (amino-N-GQDs), as photosensitizers to facilitate photodynamic therapy (PDT) has received limited research intention. To address this research gap, this study prepared novel amino-N-GQDs and investigated their properties.
Methods: The amino-N-GQDs subjected to two-photon excitation (TPE) exhibited remarkable bactericidal capability in PDT. The bonding compositions of nitrogen and the amino-functionalized group played a critical role in their antimicrobial effects.
Results: Compared with amino-group-free N-GQDs and amino-N-free GQDs, the amino-N-GQDs generated a higher amount of reactive oxygen species, demonstrating their superior efficacy for two-photon PDT. Additionally, the intrinsic luminescence properties and high photostability of the amino-N-GQDs demonstrate their suitability as an effective two-photon contrast agent for tracking bacteria during two-photon biomedical imaging.
Conclusion: The amino-N-GQD and their remarkable properties may provide an efficient alternative approach for observing and easily eliminating malignant microbes in the future.



中文翻译：

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用于有效增强双光子激发光动力疗法的氨基官能化氮掺杂石墨烯量子点：作为杀菌剂和造影剂的官能化氮

背景：尽管石墨烯量子点（GQDs）因其在各个领域的应用而受到了相当多的研究关注，但 GQDs 的使用，如氮掺杂 GQDs（N-GQDs）和氨基官能化 N-GQDs（氨基-N-GQDs） )，作为促进光动力疗法 (PDT) 的光敏剂，其研究意图有限。为了弥补这一研究空白，本研究制备了新型氨基-N-GQDs 并研究了它们的性质。
方法：经双光子激发（TPE）的氨基-N-GQDs在PDT中表现出显着的杀菌能力。氮和氨基官能团的键合组成对其抗菌作用起关键作用。
结果：与不含氨基的 N-GQDs 和不含氨基的 N-GQDs 相比，氨基-N-GQDs 产生了更多的活性氧物质，证明了它们对双光子 PDT 的优越功效。此外，氨基-N-GQDs 的固有发光特性和高光稳定性证明它们适合作为有效的双光子造影剂，用于在双光子生物医学成像过程中跟踪细菌。
结论：氨基-N-GQD及其显着特性可能为未来观察和轻松消除恶性微生物提供一种有效的替代方法。