Two-Photon Photoexcited Photodynamic Therapy and Contrast Agent with Antimicrobial Graphene Quantum Dots

• Published in: ACS applied materials & interfaces 2016-11, Vol.8 (44), p.30467-30474
• Main Authors: Kuo, Wen-Shuo, Chang, Chia-Yuan, Chen, Hua-Han, Hsu, Chih-Li Lilian, Wang, Jiu-Yao, Kao, Hui-Fang, Chou, Lawrence Chao-Shan, Chen, Yi-Chun, Chen, Shean-Jen, Chang, Wen-Tsan, Tseng, Shih-Wen, Wu, Ping-Ching, Pu, Ying-Chih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1944-8244; 1944-8252
• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b12014

A graphene quantum dot (GQD) used as the photosensitizer with high two-photon absorption in the near-infrared region, a large absolute cross section of two-photon excitation (TPE), strong two-photon luminescence, and impressive two-photon stability could be used for dual modality two-photon photodynamic therapy (PDT) and two-photon bioimaging with an ultrashot pulse laser (or defined as TPE). In this study, a GQD efficiently generated reactive oxygen species coupled with TPE, which highly increased the effective PDT ability of both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, with ultralow energy and an extremely short photoexcitation time generated by TPE. Because of its two-photon properties, a GQD could serve as a promising two-photon contrast agent for observing specimens in depth in three-dimensional biological environments while simultaneously proceeding with PDT action to eliminate bacteria, particularly in multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This procedure would provide an efficient alternative approach to easily cope with MDR bacteria.