Carbon Quantum Dots Synthesized from Quercetin: A Novel Approach for Potentiating the Antitumor Activity against Laryngeal Cancer Cells

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), a predominant subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), exhibits notably high incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Despite the common use of surgery and radiation, patients with advanced or metastatic disease often have poor 5-year survival outcomes. Hence, there is a strong necessity to devise new treatments for intervention purposes. Polyphenolic compounds, such as quercetin (Que), have shown promise in cancer treatment, but their clinical application is hindered by their low solubility and bioavailability. In this study, we successfully synthesized a novel class of carbon dots (CDs) utilizing Que molecules as precursors through a one-pot hydrothermal method, resulting in marked enhancements in solubility and bioavailability. The Que-CDs created demonstrated significant impacts on stopping the growth, migration, and invasion of TU686 cells, while also encouraging cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Transcriptomics analysis further revealed alterations in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis-related pathways. Importantly, in vivo experiments validated the antitumor efficacy of Que-CDs without causing damage to vital organs. These findings suggest that Que-CDs represent a safe and efficacious anticancer therapy for laryngeal cancer, meriting further investigation to explore their potential in clinical applications.