Hydrophobic@amphiphilic hybrid nanostructure of iron-oxide and graphene quantum dot surfactant as a theranostic platform

Nanostructure hybrids offer exceptional properties and multifunctionality, suitable for the field of theranostics. Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are two possible candidates to be used these hybrids due to their chemical, physical and biological properties. GQDs can be modified to act as surfactants. In this study, a hybrid nanostructure of GQDs and MNP has been synthesized based on hydrophobic interactions between long carbon chains on the surface of GQDs on the surroundings and MNP at the center. We have synthesized GQDs through a pyrolysis process and modified them with cetyl alcohol to obtain a surfactant-GQDs (CAGQDs). Moreover, Iron-oxide nanoparticles (IONP) as MNP has been synthesized using oleate-iron complex. Afterward, CAGQDs and IONP are hybridized, leading to a structure in which IONP is located at the center, and it is surrounded by CAGQDs (IONP@CAGQD). IONP@CAGQD possesses fluorescent and magnetic properties. Moreover, hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargo loading abilities, contrast enhancement, targeting abilities, and stimuli-responsiveness are other features of this structure. Furthermore, Low cytotoxicity of IONP@CAGQD makes its biomedical applications possible. IONP@CAGQD can potentially be used as a multifunctional theranostic agent.