Carbon dots: The next generation platform for biomedical applications

Ghosal, Krishanu; Ghosh, Anindita

doi:10.1016/j.msec.2018.11.060

Cited by 169 publications

(94 citation statements)

References 125 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Besides, the drug/gene delivery pathway is also tracked due to the intrinsic fluorescence nature of CD; therefore considered as an excellent alternative to other fluorescent dyes or semiconductor nanoparticles (Figs. 2 , 3 ) [ 113 ]. In order to deliver the anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX) into cancer cells, Zhou et al used fluorescent CD-gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSPs) as a pH-responsive drug carrier and bioimaging system.…”

Section: Applications Of Cdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Carbon dots (CDs) are the new fellow of carbon family having a size less than 10 nm and attracted much attention of researchers since the last decade because of their unique characteristics, such as inexpensive and facile synthesis methods, easy surface modification, excellent photoluminescence, outstanding water solubility, and low toxicity. Due to these unique characteristics, CDs have been extensively applied in different kind of scientific disciplines. For example in the photocatalytic reactions, drug-gene delivery system, in vitro and in vivo bioimaging, chemical and biological sensing as well as photodynamic and photothermal therapies. Mainly two types of methods are available in the literature to synthesize CDs: the top-down approach, which refers to breaking down a more massive carbon structure into nanoscale particles; the bottom-up approach, which refers to the synthesis of CDs from smaller carbon units (small organic molecules). Many review articles are available in the literature regarding the synthesis and applications of CDs. However, there is no such review article describing the synthesis and complete application of CDs derived from small organic molecules together. In this review, we have summarized the progress of research on CDs regarding its synthesis from small organic molecules (bottom-up approach) via hydrothermal/solvothermal treatment, microwave irradiation, ultrasonic treatment, and thermal decomposition techniques as well as applications in the field of bioimaging, drug/gene delivery system, fluorescence-based sensing, photocatalytic reactions, photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) and photo-thermal (PTT) therapy based on the available literature. Finally, the challenges and future direction of CDs are discussed.

show abstract

Section: Applications Of Cdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine

2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among these, hydrothermal and solvothermal methods are environmentally friendly and economical synthesis methods because the as-prepared CDs do not require further passivation. Through these methods, hydrophilic groups, such as a hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, are generated on the surface of CDs, which is convenient for subsequent applications [36,37]. Hydrophilic groups can increase the water dispersity of the CDs, facilitating cell and biological experiments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Near-infrared emissive carbon dots with 33.96% emission in aqueous solution for cellular sensing and light-emitting diodes

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Recently, as organic PSs was limited from poor water solubility and relatively low ROS generation efficiency, nano‐photosensitive agents are widely developed due to the excellent characteristics such as adjustable excitation and emission wavelength, strong anti‐photobleaching ability, small size, low toxicity and good biocompatibility 14‐17 . Herein, by using the high efficiency nano‐PS, sulphur doped carbon dots (S‐CDs), we for the first time indicated that S‐CDs could instigate potent cancer cells apoptosis as a PI3K/Akt inhibitor, which may lead to the high efficiency for PDT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sulphur doped carbon dots enhance photodynamic therapy via PI3K/Akt signalling pathway

Zhang

et al. 2020

Cell Proliferation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach for cancer treatment, and the underlying signalling pathway changes has been carried out for studying the PDT mechanisms, but is majorly limited to organic photosensitizers (PSs). For the emerging nano-PSs typically possessing higher 1 O 2 quantum yield, few mechanistic studies were carried out, which limited their further applications in clinical therapeutics. PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, a most frequently activated signalling network in cancers, could promote cancer cell survival, but was seldom reported in previous PDT studies mediated by nano-PSs. Materials and Methods:Sulphur doped carbon dots (S-CDs) was prepared via a hydrothermal synthetic route and was characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and so on. CCK-8 assay and Annexin V/PI staining were performed to demonstrate the death of cancer cells, Western blot, RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were employed to explore the underlying mechanism, and variation of PI3K/Akt and other signalling pathways was detected by Western blot.Results: S-CDs was successfully synthesized, and it was much more efficient compared with classic organic PSs. S-CDs could induce cancer cell death through mitochondria mediated cell apoptosis with the imbalance of Bcl-2 family proteins and caspase cascade via several signalling pathways. Low concentration of S-CDs could effectively inhibit PI3K/Akt pathway and promote p38/JNK pathway, on one way inhibiting cancer cell survival and on the other way promoting cell apoptosis. Conclusions:Herein, we found that S-CDs acted as an inhibitor of the PI3K/Akt pathway for efficient cancer cell killing, thus yielding in a higher PDT performance over the existing photosensitizers. S U PP O RTI N G I N FO R M ATI O NAdditional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section.

show abstract

Carbon dots: The next generation platform for biomedical applications

Cited by 169 publications

References 125 publications

Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine

Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine

Near-infrared emissive carbon dots with 33.96% emission in aqueous solution for cellular sensing and light-emitting diodes

Sulphur doped carbon dots enhance photodynamic therapy via PI3K/Akt signalling pathway

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About