{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,5]],"date-time":"2026-09-05T02:42:09Z","timestamp":1788576129956,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"American Chemical Society (ACS)","issue":"25","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]],"date-time":"2025-06-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1750118400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001407","name":"Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001407","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001409","name":"Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, India","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["SR\/NM\/NS-57\/2016"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SR\/NM\/NS-57\/2016"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001409","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001412","name":"Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001412","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001501","name":"University Grants Commission","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001501","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100002742","name":"Banaras Hindu University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["NA"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NA"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100002742","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a life-threatening parasitic disease primarily affecting populations in resource-limited, endemic regions. Existing treatments for VL face limitations such as toxicity, high costs, and suboptimal efficacy in specific patient groups. Given the lack of a vaccine, chemotherapy remains the only option, emphasizing the urgent need for safer and more effective treatments. Nanotechnology offers promising avenues to overcome these challenges. This study introduces a novel approach involving amine-functionalized graphene quantum dots (fGQDs) conjugated with Amphotericin B (fGQDAmB) to enhance targeted drug delivery to Leishmania-infected macrophages. This novel approach, which could lead to a safer and more effective treatment for VL, is a significant contribution to the field. Structural characterization by XRD and FTIR confirmed successful GQD synthesis and functionalization, while cellular assays demonstrated significantly higher macrophage uptake and enhanced antileishmanial efficacy. fGQDAmB demonstrated approximately 4.2-fold greater potency against intracellular amastigotes and 2-fold higher efficacy against promastigotes, while also exhibiting reduced cytotoxicity compared to conventional AmB. The safety and effectiveness of fGQDAmB were further validated through hemolysis assay, providing reassurance and confidence about its potential use and instilling confidence in the potential of Quantum Dot-based Nanomedicine formulations.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.5c00879","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]],"date-time":"2025-06-17T05:12:01Z","timestamp":1750137121000},"page":"26627-26638","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":8,"title":["Amine-Functionalized\nGraphene Quantum Dots Conjugated\nwith Amphotericin B: Synthesis, Characterization, and In Vitro Evaluation\nfor Visceral Leishmaniasis Treatment"],"prefix":"10.1021","volume":"10","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6896-0313","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Prasoon","family":"Madhukar","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rashmi","family":"Kesarwani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sundaram","family":"Pandey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vishal Kumar","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3531-2859","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Mallikarjuna","family":"Rao Gedda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health , , , ,","place":["Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Om Prakash","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohammad","family":"Shaz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2338-1494","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Rajiv","family":"Kumar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shyam","family":"Sundar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Banaras Hindu University , , , ,","place":["Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India, 221005"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"316","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit1","first-page":"51","volume-title":"Global Vector Control Response 2017\u20132030","author":"World Health organisation","year":"2017"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit2","unstructured":"Global leishmaniasis surveillance\n          , 2022: assessing trends\nover the past 10 years. https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/who-wer9840-471-487 (accessed 10\u201319, 2024)."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit3","unstructured":"Leishmaniasis. https:\/\/www.who.int\/health-topics\/leishmaniasis#tab=tab_1 (accessed\n10\u201319, 2024)."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit4","unstructured":"New framework launched\nto eliminate visceral leishmaniasis in eastern\nAfrica. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/12-06-2024-new-framework-launched-to-eliminate-visceral-leishmaniasis-in-eastern-africa (accessed 10\u201319, 2024)."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit5","unstructured":"Promising\npatient-friendly oral drug against visceral leishmaniasis\nenters Phase II clinical trial in Ethiopia. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news\/item\/23-04-2024-promising-patient-friendly-oral-drug-against-visceral-leishmaniasis-enters-phase-ii-clinical-trial-in-ethiopia (accessed 10\u201319, 2024)."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5772\/67398","article-title":"Clinical\nManifestations of Visceral Leishmaniasis (American Visceral Leishmaniasis)","volume-title":"Epidemiology and Ecology of Leishmaniasis","author":"Pedrosa","year":"2017"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1016\/j.idc.2018.10.005","article-title":"Visceral Leishmaniasis: Recent Advances\nin Diagnostics and Treatment Regimens","volume":"33","author":"van\nGriensven","year":"2019","journal-title":"Infect\nDis Clin North Am."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics15010099","article-title":"Liposomal\nAmphotericin B for Treatment of Leishmaniasis: From the Identification\nof Critical Physicochemical Attributes to the Design of Effective\nTopical and Oral Formulations","volume":"15","author":"Fre\u0301zard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pharmaceutics"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1186\/s40249-016-0112-2","article-title":"Current Challenges\nin Treatment Options for Visceral Leishmaniasis in India: A Public\nHealth Perspective","volume":"5","author":"Singh","year":"2016","journal-title":"Infect Dis Poverty"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pntd.0002603","article-title":"Five-Year Field Results\nand Long-Term Effectiveness of 20 Mg\/kg Liposomal Amphotericin B (Ambisome)\nfor Visceral Leishmaniasis in Bihar, India","volume":"8","author":"Burza","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026081811260645100_cit11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"989","DOI":"10.3390\/pharmaceutics14050989","article-title":"Formulation\nof Amphotericin B in PEGylated Liposomes for Improved Treatment of\nCutaneous Leishmaniasis by Parenteral and Oral Routes","volume":"14","author":"Ramos","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pharmaceutics"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.2147\/RRTM.S200218","article-title":"Lipsosomal\nAmphotericin B: A Review of Its Properties, Function, and Use for\nTreatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis","volume":"10","author":"Shirzadi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Res. Rep.\nTrop Med."},{"issue":"14","key":"2026081811260645100_cit13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1911","DOI":"10.2217\/nnm-2018-0448","article-title":"Envisioning the Innovations in Nanomedicine to Combat\nVisceral Leishmaniasis: For Future Theranostic Application","volume":"14","author":"Singh","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nanomedicine"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/wnan.1675","article-title":"Nanodiagnostics in Leishmaniasis:\nA New Frontiers for Early Elimination","volume":"13","author":"Gedda","year":"2021","journal-title":"Wiley\nInterdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol."},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081811260645100_cit15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"478","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nantod.2014.06.003","article-title":"Nanomedicine\nin the Management of Microbial Infection \u2013 Overview and Perspectives","volume":"9","author":"Zhu","year":"2014","journal-title":"Nano Today"},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081811260645100_cit16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"205","DOI":"10.1080\/026520499289185","article-title":"Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN) for\nControlled Drug\nDelivery II. Drug Incorporation and Physicochemical Characterization","volume":"16","author":"Schwarz","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Microencapsul"},{"issue":"9","key":"2026081811260645100_cit17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1239","DOI":"10.1080\/17425247.2020.1783237","article-title":"Drug Delivery to Macrophages: A Review of Nano-Therapeutics\nTargeted Approach for Inflammatory Disorders and Cancer","volume":"17","author":"Mukhtar","year":"2020","journal-title":"Expert Opin Drug Deliv"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"228","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2019.00228","article-title":"Epigenetic\nAspects\nof Engineered Nanomaterials: Is the Collateral Damage Inevitable?","volume":"7","author":"Gedda","year":"2019","journal-title":"Front Bioeng Biotechnol."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-12-803302-9.00012-9","article-title":"Nanomedicine","author":"Duschl","year":"2016","journal-title":"Immune Rebalancing: The Future of Immunosuppression"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026081811260645100_cit20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2532","DOI":"10.1039\/C5NR07579C","article-title":"Chemically Doped Fluorescent\nCarbon and Graphene Quantum Dots for\nBioimaging, Sensor, Catalytic and Photoelectronic Applications","volume":"8","author":"Du","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nanoscale"},{"issue":"7","key":"2026081811260645100_cit21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.1039\/b317044f","article-title":"Functionalized CdSe\nQuantum Dots as Selective Silver Ion Chemodosimeter","volume":"129","author":"Liang","year":"2004","journal-title":"Analyst"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1235","DOI":"10.2147\/DDDT.S63994","article-title":"Characterization and Evaluation of Amine-Modified Graphene\nAmphotericin B for the Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis: In Vivo\nand in Vitro Studies","volume":"8","author":"Mudavath","year":"2014","journal-title":"Drug Des Devel Ther"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27502","DOI":"10.1039\/d0ra04266h","article-title":"Sensible Graphene Oxide Differentiates\nMacrophages and Leishmania: A Bio-Nano Interplay in Attenuating Intracellular\nParasite","volume":"10","author":"Singh","year":"2020"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2019.05.022","article-title":"Quantum Dots in\nBiomedical Applications","volume":"94","author":"Wagner","year":"2019","journal-title":"Acta Biomater."},{"issue":"4","key":"2026081811260645100_cit25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"521","DOI":"10.1039\/C8CC08610A","article-title":"Two Photon Excitable\nGraphene Quantum Dots for Structured Illumination Microscopy and Imaging\nApplications: Lysosome Specificity and Tissue-Dependent Imaging","volume":"55","author":"Singh","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chem. Commun."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"588","DOI":"10.1016\/j.saa.2018.07.097","article-title":"Nitrogen and\nSulfur Co-Doped Graphene Quantum Dots for the Highly Sensitive and\nSelective Detection of Mercury Ion in Living Cells","volume":"206","author":"Qu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Spectrochim Acta A Mol. Biomol Spectrosc"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/j.msec.2018.09.020","article-title":"Targeting Graphene Quantum Dots to\nEpidermal Growth Factor Receptor for Delivery of Cisplatin and Cellular\nImaging","volume":"94","author":"Nasrollahi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Materials Science and Engineering:\nC"},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081811260645100_cit28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1515\/ntrev-2017-0199","article-title":"Synthesis\nand Applications of Graphene Quantum Dots: A Review","volume":"7","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Nanotechnol. Rev."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12951-020-00698-z","article-title":"Synthesis of Graphene\nQuantum Dots and Their Applications in Drug Delivery","volume":"18","author":"Zhao","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Nanobiotechnol."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081811260645100_cit30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1382","DOI":"10.1021\/acssuschemeng.6b01893","article-title":"Graphene Quantum\nDots from Mangifera Indica: Application in near-Infrared Bioimaging\nand Intracellular Nanothermometry","volume":"5","author":"Kumawat","year":"2017","journal-title":"ACS Sustain.\nChem. Eng."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1451","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2014.10.014","article-title":"Amphotericin-B Entrapped\nLecithin\/Chitosan Nanoparticles for Prolonged Ocular Application","volume":"72","author":"Chhonker","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"15858","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-017-16025-w","article-title":"Graphene Quantum\nDots for Cell Proliferation, Nucleus Imaging, and Photoluminescent\nSensing Applications","volume":"7","author":"Kumawat","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"547665","DOI":"10.3389\/fchem.2020.00510","article-title":"Evaluation of Safety\nand Antileishmanial Efficacy of\nAmine Functionalized Carbon-Based Composite Nanoparticle Appended\nWith Amphotericin B: An in Vitro and Preclinical Study","volume":"8","author":"Gedda","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Chem."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026081811260645100_cit34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"776","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201003819","article-title":"An Electrochemical\nAvenue to Green-Luminescent Graphene Quantum Dots\nas Potential Electron-Acceptors for Photovoltaics","volume":"23","author":"Li","year":"2011","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081811260645100_cit35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"844","DOI":"10.1021\/nl2038979","article-title":"Graphene Quantum Dots Derived from\nCarbon Fibers","volume":"12","author":"Peng","year":"2012","journal-title":"Nano Lett."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026081811260645100_cit36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"734","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.200902825","article-title":"Hydrothermal Route\nfor Cutting Graphene Sheets into Blue-Luminescent Graphene Quantum\nDots","volume":"22","author":"Pan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"issue":"6","key":"2026081811260645100_cit37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5102","DOI":"10.1021\/nn300760g","article-title":"Deep Ultraviolet\nPhotoluminescence of Water-Soluble\nSelf-Passivated Graphene Quantum Dots","volume":"6","author":"Tang","year":"2012","journal-title":"ACS Nano"},{"issue":"9","key":"2026081811260645100_cit38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2653","DOI":"10.1021\/nn900227d","article-title":"A Green\nApproach to the Synthesis of Graphene Nanosheets","volume":"3","author":"Guo","year":"2009","journal-title":"ACS Nano"},{"issue":"1","key":"2026081811260645100_cit39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1038\/ncomms1067","article-title":"Reduced Graphene Oxide by Chemical\nGraphitization","volume":"1","author":"Moon","year":"2010","journal-title":"Nat. Commun."},{"issue":"12","key":"2026081811260645100_cit40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1613","DOI":"10.1002\/adhm.201300066","article-title":"Insight into the Cellular Internalization and Cytotoxicity of Graphene\nQuantum Dots","volume":"2","author":"Wu","year":"2013","journal-title":"Adv. Healthc Mater."},{"issue":"2","key":"2026081811260645100_cit41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1080\/17425247.2024.2308073","article-title":"Conjugates\nof Amphotericin B to Resolve\nChallenges Associated with Its Delivery","volume":"21","author":"Jain","year":"2024","journal-title":"Expert\nOpin Drug Deliv"},{"issue":"3","key":"2026081811260645100_cit42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1169","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.biomac.1c01451","article-title":"Covalent\nConjugation of Amphotericin B to Hyaluronic Acid: An Injectable Water-Soluble\nConjugate with Reduced Toxicity and Anti-Leishmanial Potential","volume":"23","author":"Silva-Carvalho","year":"2022","journal-title":"Biomacromolecules"},{"issue":"5","key":"2026081811260645100_cit43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1327","DOI":"10.1016\/S0142-9612(01)00251-4","article-title":"Synthesis and Characterization of\nNovel Water Soluble Amphotericin B\u2013Arabinogalactan Conjugates","volume":"23","author":"Ehrenfreund-Kleinman","year":"2002","journal-title":"Biomaterials"},{"key":"2026081811260645100_cit44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1079","DOI":"10.1038\/s41586-023-06710-4","article-title":"Tuning\nSterol Extraction Kinetics Yields a Renal-Sparing Polyene Antifungal","volume":"623","author":"Maji","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nature"},{"issue":"24","key":"2026081811260645100_cit45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2658","DOI":"10.1126\/sciadv.abo2658","article-title":"Amphotericin\nB Assembles into Seven-Molecule\nIon Channels: An NMR and Molecular Dynamics Study","volume":"8","author":"Umegawa","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sci. Adv."}],"container-title":["ACS Omega"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/pdf\/10.1021\/acsomega.5c00879","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"unspecified"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/acsodf\/article-pdf\/10\/25\/26627\/40837704\/ao5c00879.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/acsodf\/article-pdf\/10\/25\/26627\/40837704\/ao5c00879.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T16:20:39Z","timestamp":1787070039000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/acsodf\/article\/10\/25\/26627\/3654702\/Amine-Functionalized-Graphene-Quantum-Dots"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"25","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,1]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acsomega.5c00879","relation":{},"ISSN":["2470-1343"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2470-1343","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,6,17]]}}}