Biochemical changes in cancer cells induced by photoactive nanosystem based on carbon dots loaded with Ru-complex

Carbon dots (CDs) and N-carbon dots (N-CDs) loaded with Ru-complex (CDs@RuCN, N-CDs@RuCN, respectively) were investigated as media imposing biochemical changes induced by UV illumination of ovarian cancer, A2780, and osteosarcoma, CAL72, cells. Synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was performed, and the spectra were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis. The CDs@RuCN and N-CDs@RuCN effects on cancer cells were analyzed by the theoretical modelling of the stability of the composite systems and a protein database search. Moreover, a detailed evaluation of surface and optical properties of CDs@RuCN and N-CDs@RuCN was carried out. Results demonstrated selective action of the CDs@RuCN and N-CDs@RuCN-based photodynamic therapy, with N-CDs@RuCN being the most active in inducing changes in A2780 and CDs@RuCN in CAL72 cells. We assume that different surface charges of nanoparticles led to direct interactions of N-CDs@RuCN with a Wnt signalling pathway in A2780 and those of CDs@RuCN with PI3–K/Akt in CAL72 cells and that further biochemical changes occurred upon light illumination.