Recent advances of carbon dots as new antimicrobial agents

Abstract

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many rapid antimicrobial agents have developed intensively. Carbon dots (CDs), a new type of carbon-based nanomaterials, shows great potential against emerging infectious diseases and antimicrobial-resistant infections due to their unique optical properties, excellent biocompatibility, and easy surface modification. With the definition of the CDs structure and properties, synthesis, and characteristic technology improvement, the research on the CDs as antimicrobial agents has made significant progress. However, the lack of high repeatable and exact preparation methods, and the regular antimicrobial activity make it far from practical application. In this review, we summarize the most recent progress and challenges of CDs antimicrobial. First, an overview of the characteristics and properties is given, and the advantage of CDs applied to antimicrobial is further discussed. Then, it focuses on research progress on antimicrobial mechanisms under different conditions, the critical factors affecting their antimicrobial activity, and the practical antimicrobial applications. Finally, the main challenges and future research perspectives of antimicrobial CDs are proposed.

The structural characteristics and mechanisms of antimicrobial carbon dots: a mini review

“…The different antimicrobial effects of CDs are mainly related to their physical and chemical properties. Due to the different preparation methods such as precursors and synthetic conditions, CDs with different structures have different antimicrobial properties 28 . CDs combined with precious metal ions (silver, gold) have a strong antimicrobial ability, 29,30 but after antimicrobial action, the metal ions are released, which is toxic to the target.…”

Biowaste-Derived Carbon Dots: A Perspective on Biomedical Potentials

“…In this scenario, chains of these natural constituents are decorated on the NPs surface and lead to limiting some interactions with the cell wall. Many studies have been devoted to CDs [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], but in this study, the necessity of using biowastes for the cost-effective and sustainable production of these materials has been emphasized with reference to their biomedical applications. The presence of cellulose in the biowaste aids in altering the features of the nanomaterials, such as size, morphology, porosity, and dispersion capability.…”

Ethanol Solution Plasma Loads Carbon Dots onto 2D HNb3O8 for Enhanced Photocatalysis

“…Zero-dimensional (0D) carbon dots (CDs) are popular in building heterojunctions because of their fascinating electron transfer properties. − Generally, the CDs are synthesized by the top-down cutting of bulk carbon and the bottom-up carbonization of organic precursors. , Up until now, increasing amounts of organic precursors have been employed to produce CDs, such as citric acid, amine, aromatic hydrocarbons, and biomass . Most of the carbonization of organic precursors depends on the conditions of high temperature and high pressure, especially the carbonization of small organic molecules.…”