| Abstract [eng] |
Two-dimentional (2D) hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles (h-BN) are very attractive candidates for drug delivery in cancer treatment. BN conjugation with doxorubicin (DOX) can reduce the cytotoxic effects of DOX in blood circulation. When the complex arrives at the cancer cell, the changes of physical or chemical effects can stimulate the release of DOX out of the complex and restore its cytotoxicity and cause the death of the tumor cell [5]. The purpose of this work is to synthesize stable hexagonal boron nitride complexes with doxorubicin and investigate their properties using spectroscopic methods. Tasks: 1. Synthesize stable BN nanoparticles and characterize them. 2. Prepare stable dispersions of BN-DOX complexes. 3. Investigate optical properties of BN-DOX complexes, their formation dynamics, and stability. In this work, BNQDs were synthesized via hydrothermal treatment and their opticial properties were investigated. Synthesized BNQDs have been characterized using TEM, UV-Vis, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The studies confirmed the formation of stable BNQDs with an average size of 3 nm. The obtained BNQDs showed a strong blue fluorescence under UV light and exhibited emission at 375 nm excitation wavelength. FT-IR characterization confirmed the formation of BNQDs as indicated by functional groups such as B-N, N-H, and O-H. OH-groups on the edges provide high water-solubility of QDs without the usage of additional surfactants. Both features of synthesized BNQDs are extremely important for further biomedical applications. The fluorescence of doxorubicin is quenched by the formation of BN-DOX complexes. The fluorescence intensity of doxorubicin decreases with complex formation at 590 nm. Free doxorubicin is highly fluorescent, but upon immobilization in the complex, its fluorescence lifespan is prolonged. For the first six hours, BN-DOX complexes are formed rapidly, and they are active. As the pH of the medium changes to acidic, the fluorescence intensity increases as the complexes decompose and the amount of free DOX in the solution increases. As time goes on, aggregates begin to form, which changes the shape of the fluorescent band. The complexes become inactive, and their fluorescence intensity does not recover after changing the pH value. It was determined that BN-DOX complexes are quite stable in neutral pH values whereas, in slightly acidic solutions, found in the tumor cells, DOX is getting effectively released from the complex. |
