Chitosan-Based Carbon Dots with Applied Aspects: New Frontiers of International Interest in a Material of Marine Origin

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted significant research attention worldwide due to their unique properties and advantageous attributes, such as superior optical properties, biocompatibility, easy surface functionalization, and more. Moreover, biomass-derived CDs have attracted much attention because of their additional advantages related to more environmentally friendly and lower-cost synthesis. In this respect, chitosan has been recently explored for the preparation of CDs, which in comparison to other natural precursors exhibited additional advantages. Beyond the benefits related to the eco-friendly and abundant nature of chitosan, using it as a nanomaterial precursor offers additional benefits in terms of structure, morphology, and dopant elements. Furthermore, the high content of nitrogen in chitosan allows it to be used as a single carbon and nitrogen precursor for the preparation of N-doped CDs, significantly improving their fluorescent properties and, therefore, their performances. This review addresses the most recent advances in chitosan-based CDs with a special focus on synthesis methods, enhanced properties, and their applications in different fields, including biomedicine, the environment, and food packaging. Finally, this work also addresses the key challenges to be overcome to propose future perspectives and research to unlock their great potential for practical applications.

From Nature‐Sourced Polysaccharide Particles to Advanced Functional Materials

“…[192] Because nitrogen doping significantly improves fluorescence of C-dots, chitosan particles are also promising candidates for in situ synthesis of C-dots on their surface, due to their high nitrogen content. [193] Upconversion NPs are generally attached to the PSP surface or encapsulated in the PSP interior for imaging purposes. For example, the encapsulation of Ln 3+ -doped NaYF 4 and NaGdF 4 upconversion NPs into phytoglycogen beads was mediated by hydrophobic interactions.…”

“…[ 192 ] Because nitrogen doping significantly improves fluorescence of C‐dots, chitosan particles are also promising candidates for in situ synthesis of C‐dots on their surface, due to their high nitrogen content. [ 193 ]…”

Effect of carbon dots supplementation in Chlorella vulgaris biomass production and its composition

“…CDs are novel fluorescent carbon-based nanomaterial with excellent properties such as chemical stability, tunable emission, biocompatibility, fluorescence, up-conversion properties, light absorption capacity, and easy and low-cost synthesis (González-González et al 2022a, Lopez-Cantu et al 2022, Villalba-Rodríguez et al 2022. Their interesting properties might lead to enhanced energy capture, growth rate, and photosynthesis efficiency when interacting with microalgae cultures (Zuo et al 2016); thus, their supplementation might stimulate microalgae growth and photosynthesis efficiency.…”

Carbon Dots from Tire Waste for the Photodegradation of Methyl Orange Dye, Antimicrobial Activity, and Molecular Docking Study

“…[17] In this context, waste tires possess favorable characteristics that render them suitable for utilization as a precursor in the production of CDs. [18] This is primarily because approximately 76 % of their composition consists of carbon-based components. [19] In addition, the utilization of a precursor with reduced economic value assists in alleviating the overall expenses linked to the production procedure.…”

“…In this context, waste tires possess favorable characteristics that render them suitable for utilization as a precursor in the production of CDs [18] . This is primarily because approximately 76 % of their composition consists of carbon‐based components [19] .…”