Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy

Abstract The magnetic quantum phenomena triggered by electrons in carbon-based materials are challenging to decipher and exploit, thus sparking extensive research interest. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), emerging candidates in nanomedicine, exhibit fascinating behaviors related to electron spin, relaxa...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tesen Zhang, Quansheng Cheng, Hongwei Cheng, Qingcheng Wang, Bingzhe Wang, Bohan Zhang, Handong Sun, Chuxia Deng, Zikang Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60951-7
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849334610544033792
author Tesen Zhang
Quansheng Cheng
Hongwei Cheng
Qingcheng Wang
Bingzhe Wang
Bohan Zhang
Handong Sun
Chuxia Deng
Zikang Tang
author_facet Tesen Zhang
Quansheng Cheng
Hongwei Cheng
Qingcheng Wang
Bingzhe Wang
Bohan Zhang
Handong Sun
Chuxia Deng
Zikang Tang
author_sort Tesen Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The magnetic quantum phenomena triggered by electrons in carbon-based materials are challenging to decipher and exploit, thus sparking extensive research interest. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), emerging candidates in nanomedicine, exhibit fascinating behaviors related to electron spin, relaxation, and migration. Herein, we report a magnetic edge state structure within nonmetallic CQDs that generates nitrogen hyperfine splitting at room temperature. Furthermore, a series of near-infrared (NIR) absorption bandgaps are produced based on spin–orbit coupling and dipole–dipole interactions, exhibiting potential in photothermal and thermoelectric catalysis. By modulating the surface ligands and solvent, relaxation rates are accelerated through spin averaging, which results in CQDs serving as desirable T1 contrast agents with the highest relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIR-II cancer therapy agents. Combining these characteristics, we propose an MRI-guided approach to precision cancer therapy that offers a pathway for the rapid advancement of nanomedicine.
format Article
id doaj-art-5f0877739b144fe6becb089fe2a47b26
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-5f0877739b144fe6becb089fe2a47b262025-08-20T03:45:31ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-60951-7Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapyTesen Zhang0Quansheng Cheng1Hongwei Cheng2Qingcheng Wang3Bingzhe Wang4Bohan Zhang5Handong Sun6Chuxia Deng7Zikang Tang8Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauFaculty of Health Sciences, University of MacauInstitute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering, University of MacauAbstract The magnetic quantum phenomena triggered by electrons in carbon-based materials are challenging to decipher and exploit, thus sparking extensive research interest. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs), emerging candidates in nanomedicine, exhibit fascinating behaviors related to electron spin, relaxation, and migration. Herein, we report a magnetic edge state structure within nonmetallic CQDs that generates nitrogen hyperfine splitting at room temperature. Furthermore, a series of near-infrared (NIR) absorption bandgaps are produced based on spin–orbit coupling and dipole–dipole interactions, exhibiting potential in photothermal and thermoelectric catalysis. By modulating the surface ligands and solvent, relaxation rates are accelerated through spin averaging, which results in CQDs serving as desirable T1 contrast agents with the highest relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIR-II cancer therapy agents. Combining these characteristics, we propose an MRI-guided approach to precision cancer therapy that offers a pathway for the rapid advancement of nanomedicine.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60951-7
spellingShingle Tesen Zhang
Quansheng Cheng
Hongwei Cheng
Qingcheng Wang
Bingzhe Wang
Bohan Zhang
Handong Sun
Chuxia Deng
Zikang Tang
Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
Nature Communications
title Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
title_full Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
title_fullStr Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
title_full_unstemmed Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
title_short Manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and NIR-II photo-thermoelectric therapy
title_sort manipulation of magnetic edge states in carbon quantum dots for magnetic resonance imaging and nir ii photo thermoelectric therapy
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60951-7
work_keys_str_mv AT tesenzhang manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT quanshengcheng manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT hongweicheng manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT qingchengwang manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT bingzhewang manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT bohanzhang manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT handongsun manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT chuxiadeng manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy
AT zikangtang manipulationofmagneticedgestatesincarbonquantumdotsformagneticresonanceimagingandniriiphotothermoelectrictherapy