Carbon dots based on endogenous nutrients with visible and NIR fluorescence to penetrate blood-brain barrier.

Compared with visible fluorescence carbon dots (CDs), the multi-emission (visible and near infrared) fluorescence CDs based platform (V-N Platform) with blood-brain barrier penetration, real-time brain imaging and drug loading capacities, is of great significance. Herein, a novel type of multi-emission fluorescence CDs (GT) was created to penetrate BBB for brain imaging and local drug delivery, which was synthesized by hydrothermal method, using endogenous l -tryptophan and d -glucose. The capability for in vitro imaging was verified through the experiments on cell imaging. Moreover, the ability of in vivo imaging, especially for brain imaging, was confirmed by experiments in mice and zebrafish. In addition, the in vitro and in vivo experiments preliminarily confirmed its potential to act as a drug delivery platform. This V-N Platform (GT) will be expected to have a significant impact on the researches for CDs and the theranostics of brain diseases. A novel kind of multi-emission fluorescence carbon dots (GT) was created with NIR fluorescence to act as the "V-N Platform", using endogenous nutrients. With the BBB-penetrating ability and drug loading potential, GT could be expected to with the potential of theranostics for brain diseases. [Display omitted] • GT CDs was synthesized using two endogenous nutrients (d -glucose and l -tryptophan) as the precursor by hydrothermal method. • The retained bio-activity of d -glucose and l -tryptophan enabled GT to cross the BBB effectively. • Carbonization endowed GT with multi-emission fluorescence, especially the NIR fluorescence. • GT could be used as fluorescent probe at multi-level,especially the brain imaging in real-time. • Nanoscale ensured GT as a drug carrier for loading drugs with various polarity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]