Recent Advances in Graphene Quantum Dots as Bioimaging Probes

Abstract

The emerging graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained tremendous attention for their enormous potential in biological applications, owing to their unique and tunable photoluminescence properties, exceptional physicochemical features, high biocompatibility, small sizes and low costs. This mini review aims to update the latest results in rapidly evolving bioimaging research and to provide critical insights into exciting future developments. We firstly provide a brief review of their synthesis and optical properties and then place emphasis on both in vitro and in vivo imaging applications. Graphical AbstractKeywords Graphene quantum dots · Photoluminescence · Bioimaging probe · In vitro imaging · In vivo imaging

Graphene and silicene quantum dots for nanomedical diagnostics

“…However, the situation is different for hydroxylated SiQDs that exhibit a slight distortion at decorated zigzag edges, illustrated by a considerable decrement in the summit bond angle of 105. 46 and 103.47 for hydroxylated Si 16 H 10 and Si 30 H 14 with respect to 117.4 and 117.05 found in small and large sized pristine SiQDs. [43][44][45] It is worth noting that, like pyrene, dibenzocoronene, C 30 H 14 , has a point group D 2h that is changed to the C 2h symmetry in its Si analog Si 30 H 14 .…”

“…In addition, for bioimaging applications, small size structures are more desirable for use as uorescent tags on living cells and tissues because large size QDs affect organ functions. 15,46,47 To examine the energy stability of QDs, we determined the harmonic frequencies as depicted in Fig. 2 for the two cases of methylated and carboxylated C 30 H 14 -CH 3 and C 30 H 14 -OH, and as shown in Table 1 for all structures.…”

Graphene Quantum Dots Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Sb2WO6 Under Ultraviolet‐ and Visible‐Light Irradiation

“…Recently, as a novel nanostructured carbon material, zero‐dimensional graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted considerable attention due to the unique properties and diverse applications in photocatalysts, bioimaging, photovoltaic devices, and biosensor . Compared to two‐ or one‐dimensional graphene, GQDs have strong quantum confinement and edge effects when the sizes are down to 10 nm or less, which induces many distinct physiochemical characteristics, such as excellent electroconductivity, chemical stability, good optical properties, large surface area, and uniform dispersity in water .…”

Facile Synthesis of Formate-Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots

“…Additionally, due to their size (on the order of 10 -8 m), GQDs are also subject to quantum confinement, and exhibit tunable photoluminescence as a result. 6 Due to these ideal properties, GQDs have found a home in a variety of applications, including solar cells, 7 lithium-ion batteries, 8 bioimaging, 9 and single-photon emission. 10 As with other types of quantum dots, such as those composed of amorphous carbon, there exists the potential to enhance the photoluminescence (PL) properties of GQDs through modification of their chemical structures.…”