# Development and testing of Carbon Quantum Dot architectures to arrest neurotoxicant-insult- related outcomes

> **NIH NIH R16** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO · 2024 · $95,550

## Abstract

Exposure to pesticides, fungicides and herbicides is linked to neuronal injury, neuronal loss and the onset and progress of
neurodegeneration. The parent grant explores whether a novel class of carbon nano materials, viz. carbon quantum dots
(CQDs), can restore cellular homeostasis and prevent behavioral deficits in organisms under pesticide exposure. Preliminary
data from our lab has revealed that organo-acid-derived CQDs can interfere in amyloid aggregation and mitigate ROS-stress
in cells. These CQDs were also uptaken by both model cell lines and nematodes and protected them from aberrant cellular
and behavioral outcomes upon paraquat exposure. We hypothesize that CQDs ameliorate environmental toxicant-
associated neuronal corruption. The present study aims to advance our knowledge of the potential mechanism(s) by which
CQDs may intervene against xenobiotic insult-associated neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo (i.e., in dopaminergic cell lines
and organismal models (Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)). The study entails the use of confocal microscopy to achieve
the objectives outlined below. We propose to image the fluorescent CQDs in vitro and in vivo to determine their
bioavailability, subcellular distribution and localization within SHSY-5Y cells and in the C. elegans nervous system. In
combination with GFP-tagged α-synuclein expressing cells and transgenic worms (that express neurons and amyloid-
forming proteins tagged with different colors), we can easily observe and identify where CQDs localize and their mechanism
of action when the cell (and worm) is exposed to xenobiotic-insult. Examples include the prevention of amyloid-protein
aggregation, reduction in the levels of free radicals and prevention of neuronal ablation. Furthermore, the use of confocal
microscopy will allow us to examine neurotoxicity, including neuronal development, neuronal absence or shrinkage,
absence of cell bodies, and reduction in the fluorescence intensity and the effect of CQDs to overcome this toxicity. In
conclusion, this study will use confocal imaging to examine the nanoscale behavior of cell lines, neurons and molecules
within live tissue when using CQDs against a toxicant. We will obtain profound insights into the physiological role of CQDs
in cell lines and organisms (C. elegans) which, in turn, will pave the way for their testing in vertebrate models of
environmental toxicant-associated neurodegenerative outcomes.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11037689
- **Project number:** 3R16GM145575-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS EL PASO
- **Principal Investigator:** Mahesh Narayan
- **Activity code:** R16 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $95,550
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11037689

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11037689, Development and testing of Carbon Quantum Dot architectures to arrest neurotoxicant-insult- related outcomes (3R16GM145575-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-11 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11037689. Licensed CC0.

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