Browsing by Author "Sudipta Senapati"

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Biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) as a controlled drug delivery vehicle of vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA infection
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016) Alok Rai; Sudipta Senapati; Shyam K. Saraf; Pralay Maiti
Biodegradable poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) is developed as a controlled drug delivery vehicle of vancomycin (VMC) with the advantage of avoiding a second surgery. The PCL-VMC hybrid, prepared through a solution route, is used as a delivery vehicle for vancomycin for controlling MRSA osteomyelitis as well as healing the cavity simultaneously in an experimental study. An in vitro study is conducted to optimize vancomycin impregnation in the PCL-VMC hybrid. An in vitro study on drug release from the hybrid material is investigated in phosphate buffer saline showing steady and sustained release of the drug. The release kinetics is fitted with several models and a non-Fickian nature is established following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Spectroscopic techniques and morphology observations reveal the cause of sustained release to be the strong interaction between the drug and the polymer. The results of the antibacterial assay show that the loading of vancomycin into the PCL matrix is able to maintain the activity of the pure drug. For the in vivo study, a unicortical defect is created in the metaphysis of the distal femur in rabbits. After contaminating the defect with MRSA, the 1st group of rabbits were treated with pure polymer, the 2nd group of rabbits were treated with normal saline (PBS), the 3rd group of rabbits were treated with pure VMC and in the last group of rabbits PCL-VMC was placed. Rabbits are assessed by clinical, radiological, histological, gross examination and bacterial load assays. Infection persisted throughout the period of study for both the pure polymer and PBS treated rabbits while rabbits treated with the PCL-VMC hybrid do not show any sign of infection. The VMC treated group rabbits show mild infection for the 1st week of the study; however, the infection becomes gradually more severe with time. Serial histology confirms the formation of new bone without any inflammation and necrosis for the rabbits treated with PCL-VMC. Importantly, the PCL-VMC hybrid bioadsorbs after delivery of the drug and thereby avoids the second surgery to remove the conventional implant. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.
Controlled DNA Delivery Using Poly(lactide) Nanoparticles and Understanding the Binding Interactions
(American Chemical Society, 2021) Sudipta Senapati; Anurag Upadhyaya; Somnath Dhruw; Debaprasad Giri; Pralay Maiti
Cationic polymer-based gene delivery vectors suffer from several limitations such as low DNA-loading capacity, poor transfection, toxicity, environmental degradations, etc. Again, very limited works are available addressing the binding interactions in detail at the atomic level explaining the loading capacity, protection ability against harsh environments, and controlled release behavior of the DNA-encapsulated vehicles. Here, a poly(l-lactide) (PLA) nanoparticle-based controlled DNA release system is proposed. The developed vehicle possesses a high DNA-loading capacity and can release the loaded DNA in a controlled manner. Spectroscopic, physicochemical, and molecular simulation techniques (AM1 and atomistic molecular dynamics) have been employed to understand the binding interactions between PLA and DNA molecules enabling high DNA loading, protection against external harsh environments, and controlled DNA release behavior. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay experiments confirm the biocompatible nature of the vehicle. Cellular uptake efficiency and endo-lysosomal escape capabilities have been investigated against HeLA cells. This study, therefore, demonstrates the development of a promising nonviral DNA delivery vector and includes a detailed investigation of the atomic-level interaction behavior between PLA and DNA molecules. © 2021 American Chemical Society
Controlled drug release through regulated biodegradation of poly(lactic acid) using inorganic salts
(Elsevier B.V., 2017) Sunil Kumar; Shikha Singh; Sudipta Senapati; Akhand Pratap Singh; Biswajit Ray; Pralay Maiti
Biodegradation rate of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) has been regulated, both increase and decrease with respect to the biodegradation of pure PLA, by embedding meager amount of inorganic salts in polymer matrix. Biodegradation is performed in enzyme medium on suspension and film and the extent of biodegradation is measured through spectroscopic technique which is also verified by weight loss measurement. Media pH has been controlled using trace amount of inorganic salt which eventually control the biodegradation of PLA. High performance liquid chromatography confirms the hydrolytic degradation of PLA to its monomer/oligomer. Induced pH by metal salts show maximum degradation at alkaline range (with calcium salt) while inhibition is observed in acidic medium (with iron salt). The pH of media changes the conformation of enzyme which in turn regulate the rate of biodegradation. Thermal degradation and increment of modulus indicate improvement in thermo-mechanical properties of PLA in presence of inorganic salts. Functional stability of enzyme with metal salts corresponding to acidic and alkaline pH has been established through a model to explain the conformational changes of the active sites of enzyme at varying pH influencing the rate of hydrolysis leading to regulated biodegradation of PLA. The tuned biodegradation has been applied for the controlled release of drug from the polymer matrix (both sustained and enhanced cumulative release as compared to pure polymer). The cell proliferation and adhesion are influenced by the acidic and basic nature of polymeric material tuned by two different inorganic salts showing better adhesion and proliferation in calcium based composite and, therefore, suggest biological use of these composites in biomedical applications. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
Corrigendum to “Layered double hydroxides as effective carrier for anticancer drugs and tailoring of release rate through interlayer anions” [Journal of Controlled Release 224 (2106) 186–198] (Layered double hydroxides as effective carrier for anticancer drugs and tailoring of release rate through interlayer anions (2016) 224 (186–198), (S016836591630013X), (10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.01.016))
(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Sudipta Senapati; Ravi Thakur; Shiv Prakash Verma; Shivali Duggal; Durga Prasad Mishra; Parimal Das; T. Shripathi; Mohan Kumar; Dipak Rana; Pralay Maiti
The authors regret that the initial published version of this article an error in the assembly of Fig. 7b resulted in some image duplications. The corrected Fig. 7b includes the correct images of the experiment. This correction/omission doesn't alter any conclusion of the article as quantitative analysis of the experiment has been performed through MTT assay, presented in Fig. 7a. [Figure Presented] The figure legend remains the same. The corrections made in this corrigendum do not affect the original conclusions of the article. The author's apologies for any inconvenience caused. © 2016 Elsevier B.V.
Effect of Particle Size on the Performance of TiO2 Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2018) Ishwar Chandra Maurya; Sudipta Senapati; Shalini Singh; Pankaj Srivastava; Pralay Maiti; Lal Bahadur
The performance of TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is largely influenced by the size of the TiO2 particles. In this work, different-sized TiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by a facile sol–gel technique using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as capping agent and its performance as the photoanode of DSSC with N719 sensitizer dye is investigated. Particle nature and dimension of TiO2 nanoparticles were studied through XRD, FTIR, SEM and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses, whereas thermal stability was investigated through TGA in the temperature range of 30–600 °C 30–600 °C. The DSSC assembled with photoanode consisted of smallest size TiO2 nanoparticles obtained using 3 mM PEG (TNP-II) exhibited solar-to-electrical energy conversion efficiency of 2.5%, under illumination of 100 mWcm−2, which was an extensive improvement compared to the device based on un-capped, TiO2 nanoparticles based cell (TNP) (1.0%). The enhancement in efficiency resulting from the reduction of particles size of TiO2 is attributed to enlarged band-gap, increased specific surface area & surface to volume ratio of the photoanode, greater dye loading and more interactions between anchoring groups of the dye and surface of TiO2.EIS measurements revealed that TNP-II photoanode–based cells exhibited faster electron transport, increased electron lifetime, higher charge collection efficiency and less recombination leading to better photovoltaic output. The work shows that developed TNP-II nanoparticles have good potential for application in photoenergy conversion devices. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Emerging bio-applications of two-dimensional nanoheterostructure materials
(Elsevier, 2020) Sudipta Senapati; Pralay Maiti
Two-dimensional materials (2DMs) are ultrathin nanomaterials with unique characteristics such as high surface-to-volume ratio, surface charge, shape, high degree of anisotropic, and adjustable chemical functionality. The discovery of graphene and its excellent properties has stimulated researchers to explore new 2D materials and investigate their properties for possible future applications. 2DMs such as graphene-based 2D materials, silicate clays, layered double hydroxides (LDHs), MXenes, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), and transition metal oxides (TMOs) offer enhanced physicochemical and biological functionality. In this chapter, we focus on state of the art of 2DMs considering their synthesis, structural characteristics and biomedical applications as well as recent advancement in this field. © 2020 Elsevier Inc.
Engineered Cellular Uptake and Controlled Drug Delivery Using Two Dimensional Nanoparticle and Polymer for Cancer Treatment
(American Chemical Society, 2018) Sudipta Senapati; Rashmi Shukla; Yamini Bhusan Tripathi; Arun Kumar Mahanta; Dipak Rana; Pralay Maiti
Two major problems in chemotherapy, poor bioavailability of hydrophobic anticancer drug and its adverse side effects causing nausea, are taken into account by developing a sustained drug release vehicle along with enhanced bioavailability using two-dimensional layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with appropriate surface charge and its subsequent embedment in polymer matrix. A model hydrophobic anticancer drug, raloxifene hydrochloride (RH), is intercalated into a series of zinc iron LDHs with varying anion charge densities using an ion exchange technique. To achieve significant sustained delivery, drug-intercalated LDH is embedded in poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) matrix to develop intravenous administration and to improve the therapeutic index of the drug. The cause of sustained release is visualized from the strong interaction between LDH and drug, as measured through spectroscopic techniques, like X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared, UV-visible spectroscopy, and thermal measurement (depression of melting temperature and considerable reduction in heat of fusion), using differential scanning calorimeter, followed by delayed diffusion of drug from polymer matrix. Interestingly, polymer nanohybrid exhibits long-term and excellent in vitro antitumor efficacy as opposed to pure drug or drug-intercalated LDH or only drug embedded PCL (conventional drug delivery vehicle) as evident from cell viability and cell adhesion experiments prompting a model depicting greater killing efficiency (cellular uptake) of the delivery vehicle (polymer nanohybrid) controlled by its better cell adhesion as noticed through cellular uptake after tagging of fluorescence rhodamine B separately to drug and LDH. In vivo studies also confirm the sustained release of drug in the bloodstream of albino rats using polymer nanohybrid (novel drug delivery vehicle) along with a healthy liver vis-à-vis burst release using pure drug/drug-intercalated LDHs with considerable damaged liver. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
Fluorescent-functionalized graphene oxide for selective labeling of tumor cells
(John Wiley and Sons Inc., 2019) Sudipta Senapati; Dinesh K. Patel; Biswajit Ray; Pralay Maiti
Fluorescence probe has attracted significant attention for biomedical imaging in recent years due to their high resolution at the cellular level. Organic-based fluorescent probes with high quantum yield are widely applied in bioimaging, but most of them suffer from a serious obstacle called aggregation-caused quenching in cellular systems. New fluorophore has been designed through functionalization of graphene oxide which emphatically exhibits aggregation-induced emission along with pH-responsive nanoprobe. Significantly higher emission of this material in slightly acidic media helps to detect tumor cell by creating a sharp contrast with the image of normal cells. The reason for pH-induced enhanced emission phenomenon is revealed through aggregation of sulfonated species in acidic media. Furthermore, the biocompatible nature of the newly developed material is found to be suitable for its application in biomedical imaging for cancer detection with better accuracy at lower cost. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1917–1924, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Functionalized Graphene Tagged Polyurethanes for Corrosion Inhibitor and Sustained Drug Delivery
(American Chemical Society, 2017) Dinesh K. Patel; Sudipta Senapati; Punita Mourya; Madan M. Singh; Vinod K. Aswal; Biswajit Ray; Pralay Maiti
Surface functionalization of graphene oxide with sulfonate group and subsequent grafting with polyurethane chains leads to the significant improvement in the properties of polymer and modified graphene as a filler. Modification of graphene oxide is revealed through spectroscopy while grafting of polymer chain over sulfonated graphene is confirmed through 1H NMR and other techniques. Higher order of self-assembly phenomena is observed in nanohybrids as compared to pure polymer through greater interaction between polymer chain and sulfonated graphene. Significant improvement in corrosion inhibition phenomena is observed using nanohybrids at low concentration as compared to pure polymer indicating its superior efficiency as a corrosion inhibitor. Nanohybrids also exhibit better biocompatible nature in lower concentration of filler with considerable sustained release of drug vis-à-vis pure polymer suggest its potential to use as a biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. © 2017 American Chemical Society.
Green synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles using Bixa orellana seed extract and its application for solar cells
(Elsevier Ltd, 2019) Ishwar Chandra Maurya; Shalini Singh; Sudipta Senapati; Pankaj Srivastava; Lal Bahadur
Mesoporous anatase TiO2 nanoparticles are the best photoanode materials for high performance DSSC. Chemical and physical methods used for the preparation of TiO2 nanoparticles suffer with environment related issues e.g. use of toxic solvents, hazardous by-products and consumptions of high energy. We have synthesized mesoporous anatase TiO2 nanoparticles from Titanium (IV) butoxide solution using Bixa orellana seed extract and further used it for making DSSC photoanode. The method offers environment friendly, cheaper and efficient DSSC. Structure, morphology, size and porosity of TiO2 nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM and N2 sorption measurements. The amount of dye loading by TiO2 was obtained using desorption technique which revealed much higher dye loading for the plant seed grown nanoparticles (G-TNP). TNP and G-TNP demonstrated photovoltaic conversion efficiencies 1.03% and 2.97% respectively. This study therefore demonstrates that the synthesized mesoporous anatase TiO2 naoparticles can serve as promising photoanode materials for DSSC applications. © 2019 International Solar Energy Society
Highly selective fluorescence 'turn off' sensing of picric acid and efficient cell labelling by water-soluble luminescent anthracene-bridged poly(: N -vinyl pyrrolidone)
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2019) Rajshree Singh; Kheyanath Mitra; Shikha Singh; Sudipta Senapati; Vijay Kumar Patel; Sambhav Vishwakarma; Archana Kumari; Jaydeep Singh; Susanta K. Sen Gupta; Nira Misra; Pralay Maiti; Biswajit Ray
A novel, water-soluble, luminescent anthracene-bridged AA-type bi-arm poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (ATC-PNVP) was synthesized using a click reaction between alkyne-terminated PNVP and 9,10-bis(azidomethyl)anthracene. The resultant anthracene-bridged PNVP (ATC-PNVP) was characterized using 1H NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods and GPC analysis. ATC-PNVP showed effective fluorescence properties in an aqueous medium. It showed highly selective "turn off" sensing behaviour towards picric acid, a common nitro-aromatic explosive, with a wide linear range of detection of 0.01-0.3 mM and LOD value of 0.006 mM in water. ATC-PNVP-based paper sensors also showed very effective detection of picric acid in the concentration range 0.001-1.0 mM. Its binding with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied using steady-state, synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy and this study showed effective quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA and occurrence of a FRET-type interaction. Furthermore, this luminescent ATC-PNVP was efficiently used as a fluorescence microscopy labelling agent in NIH-3T3 and HeLa cells, and showed greater uptake and hence better fluorescent labelling in the cytosols of the tested cells than free 9,10-bis(azidomethyl) anthracene. The cell viability study also showed a very good biocompatible and non-toxic nature of ATC-PNVP at lower working concentrations towards each of the types of cells tested. © 2019 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles for Efficient Gene Delivery for Cancer Treatment
(American Chemical Society, 2019) Sudipta Senapati; Tanmoy Sarkar; Parimal Das; Pralay Maiti
The use of cationic polymer based gene delivery vectors has several limitations such as low transfection efficiency, high toxicity, and inactivation by serum. The present work provides an inorganic based nanocarrier for efficient gene delivery and a method for preparing the same through a facile coprecipitation technique. The vehicle showed high loading capacity of DNA and can release the loaded DNA in a controlled pH-responsive manner. The developed gene delivery vehicle offers remarkable protection against DNase I and also provides protection against thermal damage. This vehicle also demonstrated efficient cellular uptake performance. Transfection and expression of plasmid gene encoding GFP proteins is achieved successfully by this LDH based vehicle. More interestingly, the developed Li-Al LDH efficiently induces GFP-p53 mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells exclusively sparing the normal tissue cells like NIH-3T3. The study demonstrates the potential of the developed inorganic based nanocarrier as a promising nonviral gene vector for tumor treatment. © 2019 American Chemical Society.
Layered double hydroxides as effective carrier for anticancer drugs and tailoring of release rate through interlayer anions
(Elsevier B.V., 2016) Sudipta Senapati; Ravi Thakur; Shiv Prakash Verma; Shivali Duggal; Durga Prasad Mishra; Parimal Das; T. Shripathi; Mohan Kumar; Dipak Rana; Pralay Maiti
Hydrophobic anticancer drug, raloxifene hydrochloride (RH) is intercalated into a series of magnesium aluminum layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with various charge density anions through ion exchange technique for controlled drug delivery. The particle nature of the LDH in presence of drug is determined through electron microscopy and surface morphology. The release of drug from the RH intercalated LDHs was made very fast or sustained by altering the exchangeable anions followed by the modified Freundlich and parabolic diffusion models. The drug release rate is explained from the interactions between the drug and LDHs along with order-disorder structure of drug intercalated LDHs. Nitrate bound LDH exhibits greater interaction with drug and sustained drug delivery against the loosely interacted phosphate bound LDH-drug, which shows fast release. Cell viability through MTT assay suggests drug intercalated LDHs as better drug delivery vehicle for cancer cell line against poor bioavailability of the pure drug. In vivo study with mice indicates the differential tumor healing which becomes fast for greater drug release system but the body weight index clearly hints at damaged organ in the case of fast release system. Histopathological experiment confirms the damaged liver of the mice treated either with pure drug or phosphate bound LDH-drug, fast release system, vis-à-vis normal liver cell morphology for sluggish drug release system with steady healing rate of tumor. These observations clearly demonstrate that nitrate bound LDH nanoparticle is a potential drug delivery vehicle for anticancer drugs without any side effect. © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Novel shape memory behaviour in IPDI based polyurethanes: Influence of nanoparticle
(Elsevier Ltd, 2017) Satyam Srivastava; Arpan Biswas; Sudipta Senapati; Biswajit Ray; Dipak Rana; Vinod K. Aswal; Pralay Maiti
A diverse nanostructure, key to property alteration, has been observed by the insertion of two dimensional nanoparticles through in-situ polymerization. Self-assembly at the molecular level has been revealed starting from nanoscale to observable microscale in thermoplastic polyurethane using alicyclic diisocyanate and how the self-assembly behaviour changes in presence of nanoparticle. Varying dispersion of nanoparticles observed using two different fillers has been explained from the interactions point of view through spectroscopic techniques. Thermal stability and unique crystallization behaviour have been reported in presence of nanoparticles. Better dispersion of nanofillers within the matrix offers greater number of nucleating site which enhances the ordering of the polymer chains, also supported by the semi-empirical calculation. The effect of modulated nanostructure and self-assembly augmented the shape memory behaviour in polyurethanes having alicyclic diisocyanate. Enhanced shape recovery has been observed in presence of organically modified clay as opposed to layered double hydroxide. The reason for this improved shape memory behaviour in nanohybrid is explained from the exclusive crystallization of the soft segment domain leading to a proposed model for shape recovery. Finally, the recovery of different shapes (coil, spinal and straight strip) at physiological temperature (37 °C) has been demonstrated, added advantage of these materials to be used in the biomedical applications. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd
Study of the fluorescence based applications of water soluble (N, P) doped carbon dots synthesized via microwave assisted green pyrolysis
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2020) Rajshree Singh; Shikha Singh; Sudipta Senapati; Kheyanath Mitra; Jaydeep Singh; Susanta K.S. Gupta; Nira Misra; Pralay Maiti; Biswajit Ray
Background: Water soluble nitrogen and phosphorus doped carbon dots (CD) have been synthesized using citric acid, tris(2-aminoethyl)amine and orthophosphoric acid via one step microwave assisted pyrolytic method. Methods: The CD synthesized has been characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and EDAX coupled with SEM techniques. Results: SEM study has shown the formation of nanosized CD with an average size of ~18 nm. Elemental analysis via EDAX has confirmed successful incorporation of nitrogen (30.8% wt) and phosphorus (5.7% wt) atoms in it. The steady state and 3D fluorescence spectroscopic studies have shown its efficient fluorescence emission with emission maxima in the region of ~450 nm. It has shown efficient “turn off” fluorescence behaviour towards transition metal ions like Fe2+ and Co2+ ions and toxic nitrophenolic compounds like p-nitrophenol and picric acid. Its efficient interaction with BSA has been revealed in terms of fluorescence quenching of BSA by steady state, synchronous and 3D fluorescence spectroscopy. It has shown very good in vitro biocompatibility and enhanced cell adhesion properties towards NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells. Moreover, fluorescence microscopy has shown significant uptake of CD by the tested cell line. Conclusion: Such bio-compatible nitrogen and phosphorous doped CD can be potentially useful to estimate metal ions, p-nitrophenol and picric acid using fluorescence spectroscopy and for fluorescence based bio-imaging. © 2020 Bentham Science Publishers.
Sustained release of herbal drugs using biodegradable scaffold for faster wound healing and better patient compliance
(Elsevier Inc., 2018) Arpan Biswas; Manori Amarajeewa; Sudipta Senapati; Manoranjan Sahu; Pralay Maiti
Electrospun scaffold has been developed using biodegradable polymer and age old herbal drug for efficient wound healing patch with much better patient compliance. Positively charged smaller particle size (40 nm) of the drug has been prepared for greater penetration through epidermal barrier to enhance the wound healing activity of drug. Controlled drug release has been understood in terms of interactions between the components through spectroscopic techniques and calorimetric studies. In-vivo study using albino rats shows better wound healing efficiency of scaffold in terms of higher wound area contraction, minimum inflammation, faster epithelialization and vascularization. Cellular studies also endorse the scaffold as better biomaterial. Clinical studies also demonstrate fast healing of different type of wounds in presence of all three wound dressing materials with histological evidences. The complete biodegradation of the patch confirms its green nature of the developed patch. © 2018 Elsevier Inc.
Water Soluble Fluorescent Graphene Nanodots
(Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2018) Shikha Singh; Kheyanath Mitra; Sudipta Senapati; Rajshree Singh; Yajnaseni Biswas; Susanta K. Sen Gupta; Nira Misra; Tarun K. Mandal; Pralay Maiti; Biswajit Ray
Water soluble fluorescent graphene nanodots (GND) have been successfully prepared through a bottom up approach from brominated pyrene via alkaline hydrothermal condensation. FT-IR, UV-Vis, Raman, XRD, AFM, and TEM studies have shown the formation of −OH group rich nanodots having graphene features with an approximate size of 90 nm. Steady state and 3D fluorescence studies have shown efficient fluorescence emission with maximum at 540 nm upon excitation at 450 nm in pH≤7. Plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (plasmid DNA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) have shown their interaction with GND, which was studied via fluorescence quenching of GND and BSA, respectively. Selective quenching of the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) of BSA-GND conjugate via ascorbic acid (AA) has been used to construct a calibration curve for AA estimation with a linear range and limit of detection of 34.00–112.00 μmole/L and 31.343 μmole/L, respectively. GND has also shown concentration-dependent turn offchemosensing towards heavy metals like Pb2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and Zn2+. In-vitromulticolor fluorescence imaging has been observed in GND-labelled HeLa (human cervical cancer) and NIH-3T3 (mouse embryonic fibroblast) cell lines with better uptake by HeLa cells. GND also has shown very high viability for both the cell lines up to the tested concentration of 300 μg/mL. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim