Integrated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Bioimaging and Targeted Drug Delivery Platform Based on Carbon Dot–Doped Biocompatible Hydrogel

Jialiang Cao; Junhan Hu

doi:10.54254/2755-2721/2025.24773

Applied and Computational EngineeringOpen access

Integrated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Bioimaging and Targeted Drug Delivery Platform Based on Carbon Dot–Doped Biocompatible Hydrogel

Research Article

Open Access

Integrated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Bioimaging and Targeted Drug Delivery Platform Based on Carbon Dot–Doped Biocompatible Hydrogel

Jialiang Cao ¹, Junhan Hu ^2*

¹ Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Shaanxi, China

² Southwest University, Chongqing, China

^*Corresponding author: rara481846778@gmail.com

Published on 4 July 2025

ACE Vol.171

ISSN (Print): 2755-273X

ISSN (Online): 2755-2721

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-219-5

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-220-1

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Abstract

We developed an integrated diagnostic and treatment platform. Near-infrared (NIR) luminescent carbon (CD) dots are embedded in cross-linked polyethylene glycol-sodium alginate (PEG-ALG) hydrogel to achieve synchronous deep tissue fluorescence imaging and targeted chemotherapy. The average particle size of CDs synthesized by hydrothermal method was 3.2 ± 0.7 nm, the quantum yield was 43.5 ± 1.8%, and the emission peak was located at 820 nm under excitation at 760 nm. Peg-alg hydrogels (10 wt% PEG-DA, 2 wt% sodium alginate) formed porous networks (pore diameter 50-150 µm), with a compressive modulus of 18.7 ± 1.2 kPa and a swelling ratio of 325 ± 18% in PBS (37°C). The inclusion of 0.5 wt% CDs reduced the fluorescence intensity by only 8%. The encapsulation ratio of doxorubicin (DOX) was 85.2 ± 3.4%, and the cumulative rejection at 72 hours was 68.4 ± 2.1%. In vitro experiments showed that Hela cells took up CDs up to 22,400 ± 1,230 c.u. /10⁴ cells (free CDs were 4,100 ± 320 c.u.) and penetrated 4.5 mm into 3D spheres. In the in vivo experiment, the FA-CD-hydrogel /DOX reached peak tumor fluorescence at 6 hours and inhibited the growth of MCF-7 xenograft tumors by 48% within 21 days (free DOX was 14%). This platform provides a highly biocompatible and targeted specific solution for image-guided local chemotherapy.

Keywords:

Carbon dots, Near-infrared fluorescence, Biocompatible hydrogel, Targeted drug delivery, Doxorubicin

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References

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References

[1]. Ozyurt, Derya, et al. "Properties, synthesis, and applications of carbon dots: A review." Carbon Trends 12 (2023): 100276.

Cite this article

Cao,J.;Hu,J. (2025). Integrated Near-Infrared Fluorescence Bioimaging and Targeted Drug Delivery Platform Based on Carbon Dot–Doped Biocompatible Hydrogel. Applied and Computational Engineering,171,46-52.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Functional Materials and Civil Engineering

ISBN: 978-1-80590-219-5(Print) / 978-1-80590-220-1(Online)

Editor: Anil Fernando

Conference website: https://2025.conffmce.org/

Conference date: 24 October 2025

Series: Applied and Computational Engineering

Volume number: Vol.171

ISSN: 2755-2721(Print) / 2755-273X(Online)

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