The synthesis and anticancer cell activity of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are described as potential theranostics. A series of secondary amine-modified CQDs were prepared using a hydrothermal method to modify β-cyclodextrin with hydroxyl and primary amine terminal functional groups. Subsequent reaction of the CQDs with NO gas under alkaline conditions yielded N-diazeniumdiolate NO donor-modified CQDs with adjustable NO payloads (0.2–1.1 μmol/mg) and release kinetics (half-lives from 29 to 79 min) depending on the level of secondary amines and surface functional groups. The anticancer activity of the NO-releasing CQDs against Pa14c, A549, and SW480 cancer cell lines proved to be dependent on both NO payloads and surface functionalizations. Primary amine-modified CQDs with NO payloads ∼1.11 μmol/mg exhibited the greatest anticancer action. A fluorescence microscopy study demonstrated the utility of these NO-releasing CQDs as dual NO-releasing and bioimaging probes.

中文翻译：

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一氧化氮释放碳量子点的治疗诊断活性

释放一氧化氮 (NO) 的碳量子点 (CQD) 的合成和抗癌细胞活性被描述为潜在的治疗诊断学。使用水热法对β-环糊精进行羟基和伯胺末端官能团修饰，制备了一系列仲胺修饰的碳量子点。CQDs 与 NO 气体在碱性条件下的后续反应产生了N-diazeniumdiolate NO 供体修饰的 CQDs 具有可调节的 NO 负载（0.2-1.1 μmol/mg）和释放动力学（半衰期为 29 至 79 分钟），具体取决于仲胺和表面官能团的水平。释放 NO 的 CQD 对 Pa14c、A549 和 SW480 癌细胞系的抗癌活性证明依赖于 NO 有效载荷和表面功能化。具有 NO 有效载荷~1.11 μmol/mg 的伯胺修饰的 CQD 表现出最大的抗癌作用。荧光显微镜研究证明了这些释放 NO 的 CQD 作为双 NO 释放和生物成像探针的效用。