Duman, Fatma DemirErkısa, MerveKhodadust, RouhullahArı, FerdaUlukaya, EnginAcar, Havva Yağcı2020-08-302020-08-302017Duman, F. D., Erkisa, M., Khodadust, R., Ari, F., Ulukaya, E., & Acar, H. Y. (2017). Folic acid-conjugated cationic Ag2S quantum dots for optical imaging and selective doxorubicin delivery to HeLa cells. Nanomedicine, 12(19), 2319–2333. https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2017-01801743-58891748-6963https://doi.org/10.2217/nnm-2017-0180https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12713/875We aim to develop folic acid ( FA)-conjugated cationic Ag2S near-infrared quantum dots (NIRQDs) for the delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) selectively to folate receptor (FR)-positive cancer cells to achieve enhanced drug efficacy and optical tracking in the NIR region. Materials & methods: Cationic Ag2S NIRQDs were decorated with FA using a PEG bridge and loaded with DOX. In vitro studies were performed on FR-positive human cervical carcinoma cells and FR-negative A549 cells. Results: Significantly higher uptake of DOX by human cervical carcinoma cells cells and a greater therapeutic effect along with a strong intracellular optical signal were obtained with DOX-loaded FA-conjugated Ag2S NIRQDs. Conclusion: These Ag2S NIRQDs are promising theranostic nanoparticles for receptor-mediated delivery of DOX with enhanced drug efficacy combined with optical imaging.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessAg2s Quantum DotsCancer TherapyDoxorubicinNear-Infrared ImagingTargetingArticle12192319233328875744WOS:0004118434000042-s2.0-85030166267Q110.2217/nnm-2017-0180Q1