Carbon Dots: Opportunities and Challenges in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been actively studied and reported for their various properties. In particular, the specific characteristics of carbon dots have been considered as a possible technique for cancer diagnosis and therapy. This is also a cutting-edge technology that offers fresh ideas for treating various disorders. Though carbon dots are still in their infancy and have not yet shown their value to society, their discovery has already resulted in some noteworthy advancements. The application of CDs indicates conversion in natural imaging. Photography using CDs has demonstrated extraordinary appropriateness in bio-imaging, the discovery of novel drugs, the delivery of targeted genes, bio-sensing, photodynamic therapy, and diagnosis. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of CDs, including their benefits, characteristics, applications, and mode of action. In this overview, many CD design strategies will be highlighted. In addition, we will discuss numerous studies on cytotoxic testing to demonstrate the safety of CDs. The current study will address the production method, mechanism, ongoing research, and application of CDs in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Advances in the design and use of carbon dots for analytical and biomedical applications

“…As an example, CDs synthesized with asparagine (Asp) showed high contrast biodistribution 15 min after their injection into mice. A significantly stronger fluorescent signal was measured in glioma (cancerous glial cells) compared to normal brain tissue, indicating their ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and become preferentially enriched in the tumor [133,134]. This preferential localization of CDs is consistent with other nanomaterials that become enriched in tumors due to their disorganized vasculature, and is not specific per se.…”

New insights into targeted therapy of glioblastoma using smart nanoparticles

“…Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been extensively explored for their various properties [ 127 ]. Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) such as graphene, and carbon nanotubes and quantum dots, are another category of nanomaterials with high capability of targeting cancer cells [ 128 ].…”

Synthetic strategies, properties and sensing application of multicolor carbon dots: recent advances and future challenges

“…Generally, CDs have one or more absorption peaks centered within the UV-Vis region. 123–125 M-CDs usually exhibited strong absorption in the near UV region (230–270 nm) due to the π–π* transition of CC/CN bonds, 126 whereas the peak within the range of 280–350 nm is determined by n–π* transition of CC or CO bonds. 127 The absorption peak located within the region of 350–600 nm is closely related to the surface functional groups of C-dots.…”