These days carbon dots have been developed for multiple biomedical applications. In the current study, the transfection potential of synthesized carbon dots from single biopolymers such as chitosan, PEI-2kDa, and PEI-25kDa (CS-CDs, PEI2-CDs, and PEI25-CDs) and by combining two biopolymers (CP2-CDs and CP25-CDs) through a bottom-up approach have been investigated. The characterization studies revealed successful synthesis of fluorescent, positively charged carbon dots <20 nm in size. Synthesized carbon dots formed a stable complex with plasmid DNA (EGFP-N1) and miRNA-153 that protected DNA/miRNA from serum-induced degradation. In-vitro cytotoxicity analysis revealed minimal cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines (A549 and MDA-MB-231). In-vitro transfection of EGFP-N1 plasmid DNA with PEI2-CDs, PEI25-CDs and CP25-CDs demonstrated that these CDs could strongly transfect A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The highest EGFP-N1 plasmid transfection efficiency was observed with PEI2-CDs at a weight ratio of 32:1. PEI25-CDs polyplex showed maximum transfection at a weight ratio of 8:1 in A549 at a weight ratio of 16:1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. CP25-CDs exhibited the highest transfection at a weight ratio of 16:1 in both cell lines. The in-vitro transfection of target miRNA, i.e., miR-153 in A549 and MDA-MB-231 cells with PEI2-CDs, PEI25-CDs, and CP25-CDs suggested successful transfer of miR-153 into cells which induced significant cell death in both cell lines. Importantly, CS-CDs and CP2-CDs could be tolerated by cells up to 200 μg/mL concentration, while PEI2-CDs, PEI25-CDs, and CP25-CDs showed non-cytotoxic behavior at low concentrations (25 μg/mL). Together, these results suggest that a combination of carbon dots synthesized from chitosan and PEI (CP25-CDs) could be a novel vector for transfection nucleic acids that can be utilized in cancer therapy.

Centre of Medical and Bio Allied Health Sciences Research Ajman University Ajman United Arab Emirates

Department of Biotechnology MMEC Maharishi Markandeshwar Mullana 133207 India

Department of Chemistry Physical Sciences Mizoram University Aizawl 796004 India

Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences King Abdulaziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Embryonic Stem Cells Research Unit King Fahd Medical Research Center King Abdul Aziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Faculty of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology Shoolini University Solan 173229 India

Gilbert and Rose Marie Chagoury School of Medicine Lebanese American University Beirut Lebanon

King Fahd Medical Research Center and Yousef Abdullatif Jameel Chair of Prophetic Medicine Application Faculty of Medicine King Abdulaziz University Jeddah Saudi Arabia

Laboratory of Animal Immunology and Biotechnology Department of Animal Morphology Physiology and Genetics Faculty of AgriSciences Mendel University in Brno 61300 Brno Czech Republic

Research and Scientific Studies Unit College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Jazan University Jazan 45142 Saudi Arabia

School of Advance Chemical Sciences Shoolini University Solan 173229 India

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