N-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots/Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposites: A Study of ROS-Forming Mechanisms, Cytotoxicity and Photodynamic Therapy.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) have been proven to be potential candidates in cancer therapy, particularly photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, the application of TiO NPs is limited due to the fast recombination rate of the electron (e)/hole (h) pairs attributed to their broader bandgap energy. Thus, surface modification has been explored to shift the absorption edge to a longer wavelength with lower e/h recombination rates, thereby allowing penetration into deep-seated tumors.

Sensitive detection of trace level Cd (II) triggered by chelation enhanced fluorescence (CHEF) "turn on": Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) as fluorometric paper-based sensor.

Cadmium ion (Cd (II)) is a highly toxic heavy metal usually found in natural water. Exposure to Cd (II) can produce serious effects in human organs such as Itai-Itai disease. Therefore, the maximum allowance levels of Cd (II) in drinking water and herbal medicines imposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) are 3 μg L and 300 μg kg, respectively.

A titanium dioxide/nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dot nanocomposite to mitigate cytotoxicity: synthesis, characterisation, and cell viability evaluation.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) have attracted tremendous interest owing to their unique physicochemical properties. However, the cytotoxic effect of TiO NPs remains an obstacle for their wide-scale applications, particularly in drug delivery systems and cancer therapies. In this study, the more biocompatible nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) were successfully incorporated onto the surface of the TiO NPs resulting in a N-GQDs/TiO nanocomposites (NCs).