Design of multifunctional FePt/GO nanocomposites for targeting, dual-modal imaging diagnostic and in situ therapeutic potential theranostic platform

In this work, highly monodispersed chemically disordered face centered cubic (fcc) FePt nanoparticles (NPs) were assembled on graphene oxide (GO) surface to form FePt/GO nanocomposites via a simple polyol protocol. Conjugated with the biocompatible 6-arm polyethylene glycol-amine polymer, folic acid and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), the as-prepared nanocomposites exhibit high stability in physiological solutions, targeted delivery to folate receptor-positive cancer cells and dual-modal visualization of cellular uptake by fluorescence (FITC) and magnetic resonance imaging. As pH-sensitive agents, the fccFePt NPs display high cytotoxicity because of the generation of highly reactive oxygen species within cancer cells. Due to their targeting, diagnostic and therapeutic functions, the FePt/GO nanocomposites are therefore promising for potential theranostic applications in cancer treatment.