Functionalized graphene quantum dots as drug carrier

Project funded by Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) (Project grant), grant 2018-03313_Vinnova. Participating organisations named by the source: SHT Smart High-Tech Aktiebolag. Funded amount: SEK 300,000, as stated by the source. Runs 2018-12-01 to 2019-09-30. Keywords: Medicin och hälsovetenskap, Medical and Health Sciences, Medicinsk bioteknologi, Medical Biotechnology, Biomaterialvetenskap, Biomaterials Science. Source: OpenAIRE Graph, from the funder's project data (collected by OpenAIRE on 2025-12-04); national funding data, not CORDIS. Abstract given by the source: Purpose and goal: The project aims at exploring the potential use of graphene quantum dots with high purity and exact size control to act as potential mRNA delivery system. We have successfully prepared size controlled graphene quantum dots with functional group on the surface. As the drug delivery system, they can bind to the mRNA and deliver into the cell. Expected results and effects: At the present time, we can control the size of graphene quantum dots in a narrow range with expected functional group on the surface. mRNA is attached to the functionalized graphene quantum dots and are successfully delivered into the cell. The whole system is quite stable compared with reference samples. Improvement in transfection efficiency and reduction in toxicity will be necessary in the future work. Approach and implementation: The pre-study was a collaborative work between Astrazeneca, SHT and Chalmers. We have developed functionalized graphene quantum dots for mRNA drug delivery system. At the present time, there are still issues to be solved, such as transfection efficiency and toxicity. In the future work, we need to optimize the functional group to make it more biocompatible. We need a profound understanding of the specific reaction and releasing mechanism between graphene and mRNA, and how the system performs within the cell environment. A systematic study of these aspects is expected to take 2-3 years.

Original source.

Source: OpenAIRE Graph: projects of national funders, OpenAIRE, from the project data of Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova). Retrieved 2026-10-28. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (OpenAIRE Graph). Selected metadata, adapted presentation; the publisher's record is authoritative. No endorsement by the source is implied. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).

AI-assisted summary: The project, funded by Vinnova with SEK 300,000, explores the use of functionalized graphene quantum dots as a drug delivery system for mRNA. It runs from December 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019, and involves SHT Smart High-Tech Aktiebolag. Suggested technology pillar: enabling. Generated by AI from the public source text; it may contain errors and the original source is authoritative.