Photoresponsive quinoline tethered fluorescent carbon dots for regulated anticancer drug delivery

Abstract

A photoresponsive nano drug delivery system (DDS) was constructed using two new ingredients: fluorescent carbon dots and a quinoline based phototrigger. The strong fluorescent properties of carbon dots have been explored for in vitro cellular imaging application, and the phototrigger ability of quinoline was exploited for efficient anticancer drug release using both one-photon and two-photon excitation.