Competitor induced dissipation of carbon quantum dot based hierarchical vesicular self-assembly: A theranostic nanoplatform towards hypercholesterolemia

Supramolecular self-assembly derived from amphiphilic molecules is one of the prime interests with the motivation to develop new building blocks to create different task-specific self-assemblies. Considering the emergent applicability of these self-aggregates across the globe, it would be necessary to develop an alternate technique for the manufacture of self-aggregates employing novel building blocks. With this aim, we synthesized a palmitoyl moiety functionalized carbon quantum dot (FCQD). Interestingly, the synthesized FCQD was found to form a stable amphiphilic inclusion complex (βCD-FCQD) with the ‘host’ β-cyclodextrin (βCD). This amphiphilic βCD-FCQD complex was utilized as a building block to form a hierarchical vesicular self-aggregate (βCD-FCQD vesicle). This βCD-FCQD vesicle was successfully employed to detect cholesterol. Moreover, cholesterol lowering hydrophilic drug rosuvastatin loaded βCD-FCQD vesicle was found to be potential in regulation of cholesterol. This work is anticipated to encourage the construction of drug loaded self-assembly based formulation to achieve a way out towards graded combined treatment for cholesterol related disorder like hypercholesterolemia.