Bioanalytical Applications of Graphene Quantum Dots for Circulating Cell-Free Nucleic Acids: A Review

Abstract

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are carbonaceous nanodots that are natural crystalline semiconductors and range from 1 to 20 nm. The broad range of applications for GQDs is based on their unique physical and chemical properties. Compared to inorganic quantum dots, GQDs possess numerous advantages, including formidable biocompatibility, low intrinsic toxicity, excellent dispensability, hydrophilicity, and surface grating, thus making them promising materials for nanophotonic applications. Owing to their unique photonic compliant properties, such as superb solubility, robust chemical inertness, large specific surface area, superabundant surface conjugation sites, superior photostability, resistance to photobleaching, and nonblinking, GQDs have emerged as a novel class of probes for the detection of biomolecules and study of their molecular interactions. Here, we present a brief overview of GQDs, their advantages over quantum dots (QDs), various synthesis procedures, and different surface conjugation chemistries for detecting cell-free circulating nucleic acids (CNAs). With the prominent rise of liquid biopsy-based approaches for real-time detection of CNAs, GQDs-based strategies might be a step toward early diagnosis, prognosis, treatment monitoring, and outcome prediction of various non-communicable diseases, including cancers.

Integrated analysis of circulating cell free nucleic acids for cancer genotyping and immune phenotyping of tumor microenvironment

“…Newer methods for biomolecule detection through graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was described that could estimate the circulating nucleic acids like DNA, mRNA, miRNA, mtDNA and lncRNA in plasma and serum samples ( Ratre et al, 2022 ). These GQDs have better sensitivity and effectiveness when collaborated with optical, chemiluminiscent and electrical biosensors to selectively identify circulating cell free nucleic acids and transform into signal-specific biomarkers ( Goryacheva et al, 2018 ).…”

Advances in Structural Modifications and Properties of Graphene Quantum Dots for Biomedical Applications

“…In the future, GQDs may become a popular material for advanced technology in the biomedical and imaging fields. This section will show several applications of GQDs like biomedical, bioimaging, biosensing, and drug-delivery fields . Each of these fields will be subdivided into detailed applications as below.…”

“…Size-tunable optical properties of GQDs are harnessed for tagging biomolecules for their in vitro and in vivo imaging. The possibility of using GQDs as fluorophores has been demonstrated by labeling a variety of cell types such as neuroendocrine PC12 cells, murine alveolar macrophage cells (MH-S), human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells, human hepatic cancer cells (Huh7), MCF-7 stem cells including neural stem cells, pancreas progenitor cells, and neurosphere cells, some of which have been discussed below. ,,, …”

Low-dimensionality carbon-based biosensors: the new era of emerging technologies in bioanalytical chemistry

“…For additional examples of CQDs and GQDs applied to biosensing and bioimaging, especially for circulating nucleic acid bioanalysis, the readers can refer to the selected literature [ 54 , 55 ]. Although we highlighted quantum dots, applications of fullerenes can be found in literature as photoactive materials bound to dyes, such as methylene blue [ 56 ], and as a charge-transfer mediator, especially for nucleic acid sensing [ 57 , 58 ].…”