Targeting graphene quantum dots to epidermal growth factor receptor for delivery of cisplatin and cellular imaging.

The unique properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) which include high loading capacity, excellent physiological stability, strong photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and facile production make them attractive nanomaterials for biomedical applications. In this work, GQDs have been explored as dual-functional targeted drug carriers and cellular bioimaging agents. The GQDs were conjugated to single chain variable fragment of antibody (scFv), which had been engineered with high affinity (B10) to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), via amide covalent linkages (GQDs-scFvB10).