Graduation Year
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Ph.D.
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Degree Granting Department
Medical Sciences
Major Professor
Robert Deschenes, Ph.D., M.D.
Committee Member
Gloria C. Ferreira, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Eric Bennett, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Yu Chen, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Yashwant Pathak, Ph.D.
Keywords
graphene quantum dots, nanoparticles, theranostics, ovarian cancer, toxicity
Abstract
Ovarian cancer, one of the most dreadful malignancies of the female reproductive system, poses a lethal threat to women worldwide. In this dissertation, the objective was to introduce a novel type of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) based nano-sized drug delivery systems (DDS) for ovarian cancer treatment. As a starting point, the facile synthesis method of the GQDs was established. Subsequently, the targeting ligand,folic acid (FA), was conjugated to GQDs. Next, a FDA approved chemotherapeutic drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), was loaded to form the GQDs-FA-DOX nano-conjugation as the DDS. Moreover, the uptake profile and anti-cancer effect of the GQDs-FA-DOX were validated in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, the immunotoxicity of GQDs and its mechanism were investigated and elucidated. Taken together, the findings described in this dissertation provide a novel and powerful strategy of targeted treatment for ovarian cancer.
Scholar Commons Citation
Qin, Yiru, "Graphene Quantum Dots-Based Drug Delivery for Ovarian Cancer Therapy" (2016). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/6358
