2026-04-18T03:59:09Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2072/4562752025-06-12T07:54:57Zcom_2072_98col_2072_378192

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Hadad, Caroline author González-Domínguez, José Miguel author Armelloni, Silvia author Mattinzoli, Deborah author Ikehata, Masami author Istif, Akcan author Ostric, Adrian author Cellesi, Francesco author Alfieri, Carlo Maria author Messa, Piergiorgio author Ballesteros, Belén author Da Ros, Tatiana author 2021 Carbon nanomaterials offer excellent prospects as therapeutic agents, and among them, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained considerable interest thanks to their aqueous solubility and intrinsic fluorescence, which enable their possible use in theranostic approaches, if their biocompatibility and favorable pharmacokinetic are confirmed. We prepared ultra-small GQDs using an alternative, reproducible, top-down synthesis starting from graphene oxide with a nearly 100% conversion. The materials were tested to assess their safety, demonstrating good biocompatibility and ability in passing the ultrafiltration barrier using an in vitro model. This leads to renal excretion without affecting the kidneys. Moreover, we studied the GQDs in vivo biodistribution confirming their efficient renal clearance, and we demonstrated that the internalization mechanism into podocytes is caveolae-mediated. Therefore, considering the reported characteristics, it appears possible to vehiculate compounds to kidneys by means of GQDs, overcoming problems related to lysosomal degradation. Graphene quantum dots Podocytes Biodistribution Uptake pathway Renal clearance Nanocarrier Graphene quantum dots : from efficient preparation to safe renal excretion