A comprehensive review on carbon quantum dots

Yıl 2024, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 50 - 60, 30.06.2024

Mussarat Jabeen , Iqra Mutaza

https://doi.org/10.51435/turkjac.1450796

Öz

Over the past few decades, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) gained remarkable attention due to their distinctive properties and wide-ranging applications. Usually, CQDs are nano-sized materials, showcase of outstanding optical, electronic, and chemical characteristics. Their synthesis involves the controlled carbonization of diverse carbon-rich precursors, such as organic molecules or waste materials. Their optical properties, including adjustable fluorescence, make them ideal for implementation in bioimaging, sensors, and optoelectronic devices. Their diminutive size, biocompatibility, and minimal toxicity enhance their suitability for applications in biology and medicine. Furthermore, researchers have delved into exploring the potential of CQDs in energy-related domains, such as photo-catalysis, solar cells, and super-capacitors, leveraging their unique electronic structure and catalytic capabilities. Ongoing research continue to uncover their synthesis and fascinating applications due to low toxicity. This review provides comprehensive information on CQDs, including their synthesis, characteristics, and attractive applications.
Carbon quantum dots, bio-imaging, photo-catalyst, nano-medicine, chemical sensor.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Carbon quantum dots, bio-imaging, photo-catalyst, nano-medicine, chemical sensor.

Kaynakça

• P. Kumar, S. Dua, R. Kaur, M. Kumar, G. Bhatt, A review on advancements in carbon quantum dots and their application in photovoltaics, RSC Advances 12 (8), 4714-4759, 2022.
• M. Farshbaf, S. Davaran, F. Rahimi, N. Annabi, R. Salehi, A. Akbarzadeh, Carbon quantum dots: recent progresses on synthesis, surface modification and applications, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology 46 (7), 1331-1348, 2018.
• M. Pourmadadi, E. Rahmani, M. Rajabzadeh-Khosroshahi, A. Samadi, R. Behzadmehr, A. Rahdar, L. F. R. Ferreira, Properties and application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in biosensors for disease detection: A comprehensive review, J Drug Deliv Sci Tec 80 104156, 2023.
• T. J. Pillar-Little, N. Wanninayake, L. Nease, D. K. Heidary, E. C. Glazer, D. Y. Kim, Superior photodynamic effect of carbon quantum dots through both type I and type II pathways: Detailed comparison study of top-down-synthesized and bottom-up-synthesized carbon quantum dots, Carbon 140 616-623, 2018.
• A. Tadesse, D. Rama Devi, M. Hagos, G. Battu, K. Basavaiah, Facile green synthesis of fluorescent carbon quantum dots from citrus lemon juice for live cell imaging, Asian Journal of Nanoscience and Materials 1 (1), 36-46, 2018.
• Y. Guo, Z. Wang, H. Shao, X. Jiang, Hydrothermal synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon nanoparticles from sodium citrate and their use for the detection of mercury ions, Carbon 52 583-589, 2013.
• K. Dimos, Carbon Quantum Dots: Surface Passivation and Functionalization, Curr Org Chem 20 (6), 682-695, 2016.
• M. Bangal, S. Ashtaputer, S. Marathe, A. Ethiraj, N. Hebalkar, S. W. Gosavi, J. Urban, S. K. Kulkarni, Semiconductor Nanoparticles, in: D. R. S. Somayajulu, K. P. Lieb (Eds.) IWNMS 2004, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2005, pp. 81-94.
• W. Zhou, J. J. Coleman, Semiconductor quantum dots, Curr Opin Solid St M 20 (6), 352-360, 2016.
• A. M. Wagner, J. M. Knipe, G. Orive, N. A. Peppas, Quantum dots in biomedical applications, Acta Biomater 94 44-63, 2019.
• A. Gour, S. Ramteke, N. K. Jain, Pharmaceutical Applications of Quantum Dots, AAPS Pharm Sci Tech 22 (7), 233, 2021.
• H. Li, Z. Kang, Y. Liu, S.-T. Lee, Carbon nanodots: synthesis, properties and applications, J Mater Chem 22 (46), 24230-24253, 2012.
• S. Y. Lim, W. Shen, Z. Gao, Carbon quantum dots and their applications, Chem Soc Rev 44 (1), 362-381, 2015.
• K. J. Mintz, Y. Zhou, R. M. Leblanc, Recent development of carbon quantum dots regarding their optical properties, photoluminescence mechanism, and core structure, Nanoscale 11 (11), 4634-4652, 2019.
• P. Anilkumar, X. Wang, L. Cao, S. Sahu, J.-H. Liu, P. Wang, K. Korch, K. N. Tackett Ii, A. Parenzan, Y.-P. Sun, Toward quantitatively fluorescent carbon-based “quantum” dots, Nanoscale 3 (5), 2023-2027, 2011.
• P. Namdari, B. Negahdari, A. Eatemadi, Synthesis, properties and biomedical applications of carbon-based quantum dots: An updated review, Biomed Pharmacother 87 209-222, 2017.
• A. S. Barnard, S. P. Russo, I. K. Snook, Size dependent phase stability of carbon nanoparticles: Nanodiamond versus fullerenes, J Chem Phys 118 (11), 5094-5097, 2003.
• J. M. Klostranec, W. C. W. Chan, Quantum Dots in Biological and Biomedical Research: Recent Progress and Present Challenges, Adv Mater 18 (15), 1953-1964, 2006.
• S. C. Ray, A. Saha, N. R. Jana, R. Sarkar, Fluorescent Carbon Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Bioimaging Application, J Phys Chem C 113 (43), 18546-18551, 2009.
• X. Wang, K. Qu, B. Xu, J. Ren, X. Qu, Multicolor luminescent carbon nanoparticles: Synthesis, supramolecular assembly with porphyrin, intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activity and applications, Nano Research 4 (9), 908-920, 2011.
• P. Koutsogiannis, E. Thomou, H. Stamatis, D. Gournis, P. Rudolf, Advances in fluorescent carbon dots for biomedical applications, Advances in Physics: X 5 (1), 1758592, 2020.
• D. L. Zhao, T.-S. Chung, Applications of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) in membrane technologies: A review, Water Research 147 43-49, 2018.
• Y. Zhang, D. Petibone, Y. Xu, M. Mahmood, A. Karmakar, D. Casciano, S. Ali, A. S. Biris, Toxicity and efficacy of carbon nanotubes and graphene: the utility of carbon-based nanoparticles in nanomedicine, Drug metabolism reviews 46 (2), 232-46, 2014.
• A. Truskewycz, S. Beker, A. S. Ball, I. Cole, Photoluminescence measurements of carbon quantum dots within three-dimensional hydrogel matrices using a high throughput 96 well plate method, MethodsX 6 437-441, 2019.
• X. Xu, R. Ray, Y. Gu, H. J. Ploehn, L. Gearheart, K. Raker, W. A. Scrivens, Electrophoretic analysis and purification of fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotube fragments, J Am Chem Soc 126 (40), 12736-7, 2004.
• P. K. Yadav, S. Chandra, V. Kumar, D. Kumar, S. H. Hasan, Carbon Quantum Dots: Synthesis, Structure, Properties, and Catalytic Applications for Organic Synthesis, Catalysts 13 (2), 422, 2023.
• X. Liu, J. Hao, J. Liu, H. Tao, Green synthesis of carbon quantum dots from lignite coal and the application in Fe3+ detection, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 113 (1), 012063, 2018.
• R. Wang, K.-Q. Lu, Z.-R. Tang, Y.-J. Xu, Recent progress in carbon quantum dots: synthesis, properties and applications in photocatalysis, J Mater Chem A 5 (8), 3717-3734, 2017.
• R. Das, R. Bandyopadhyay, P. Pramanik, Carbon quantum dots from natural resource: A review, Mater Today Chem 8 96-109, 2018.
• M. J. Molaei, Principles, mechanisms, and application of carbon quantum dots in sensors: a review, Anal Method 12 (10), 1266-1287, 2020.
• T. Takagahara, K. Takeda, Theory of the quantum confinement effect on excitons in quantum dots of indirect-gap materials, Physical Review B 46 (23), 15578-15581, 1992.
• H.-L. Yang, L.-F. Bai, Z.-R. Geng, H. Chen, L.-T. Xu, Y.-C. Xie, D.-J. Wang, H.-W. Gu, X.-M. Wang, Carbon quantum dots: Preparation, optical properties, and biomedical applications, Mater Today Adv 18 100376, 2023.
• T. Yuan, T. Meng, P. He, Y. Shi, Y. Li, X. Li, L. Fan, S. Yang, Carbon quantum dots: an emerging material for optoelectronic applications, J Mater Chem C 7 (23), 6820-6835, 2019.
• A. M. Smith, H. Duan, M. N. Rhyner, G. Ruan, S. Nie, A systematic examination of surface coatings on the optical and chemical properties of semiconductor quantum dots, Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP 8 (33), 3895-903, 2006.
• D. Ozyurt, M. A. Kobaisi, R. K. Hocking, B. Fox, Properties, synthesis, and applications of carbon dots: A review, Carbon Trends 12 100276, 2023.
• Z. Liu, H. Zou, N. Wang, T. Yang, Z. Peng, J. Wang, N. Li, C. Huang, Photoluminescence of carbon quantum dots: coarsely adjusted by quantum confinement effects and finely by surface trap states, Sci China Chem 61 (4), 490-496, 2018.
• Y. K. Chang, H. H. Hsieh, W. F. Pong, M. H. Tsai, F. Z. Chien, P. K. Tseng, L. C. Chen, T. Y. Wang, K. H. Chen, D. M. Bhusari, J. R. Yang, S. T. Lin, Quantum Confinement Effect in Diamond Nanocrystals Studied by X-Ray-Absorption Spectroscopy, Phys Rev Lett 82 (26), 5377-5380, 1999.
• O. D. Neikov, N. A. Yefimov, Chapter 9 - Nanopowders, in: O. D. Neikov, S. S. Naboychenko, N. A. Yefimov (Eds.), Handbook of Non-Ferrous Metal Powders (Second Edition), Elsevier, Oxford, pp. 271-311, 2019.
• M. Yuan, R. Zhong, H. Gao, W. Li, X. Yun, J. Liu, X. Zhao, G. Zhao, F. Zhang, One-step, green, and economic synthesis of water-soluble photoluminescent carbon dots by hydrothermal treatment of wheat straw, and their bio-applications in labeling, imaging, and sensing, Appl Surf Sci 355 1136-1144, 2015.
• D. Wang, L. Zhu, C. McCleese, C. Burda, J.-F. Chen, L. Dai, Fluorescent carbon dots from milk by microwave cooking, RSC Advances 6 (47), 41516-41521, 2016.
• S. Borna, R. E. Sabzi, S. Pirsa, Synthesis of carbon quantum dots from apple juice and graphite: investigation of fluorescence and structural properties and use as an electrochemical sensor for measuring Letrozole, J Mater Sci: Materials in Electronics 32 (8), 10866-10879, 2021.
• X. Xu, K. Zhang, L. Zhao, C. Li, W. Bu, Y. Shen, Z. Gu, B. Chang, C. Zheng, C. Lin, H. Sun, B. Yang, Aspirin-Based Carbon Dots, a Good Biocompatibility of Material Applied for Bioimaging and Anti-Inflammation, ACS Appl Mater Inter 8 (48), 32706-32716, 2016.
• L. Wang, W. Li, B. Wu, Z. Li, S. Wang, Y. Liu, D. Pan, M. Wu, Facile synthesis of fluorescent graphene quantum dots from coffee grounds for bioimaging and sensing, Chem Eng J 300 75-82, 2016.
• Y. Zhao, Y. Zhang, X. Liu, H. Kong, Y. Wang, G. Qin, P. Cao, X. Song, X. Yan, Q. Wang, H. Qu, Novel carbon quantum dots from egg yolk oil and their haemostatic effects, Scientific Reports 7 (1), 4452, 2017.
• Y. Liu, Q. Zhou, J. Li, M. Lei, X. Yan, Selective and sensitive chemosensor for lead ions using fluorescent carbon dots prepared from chocolate by one-step hydrothermal method, Sensor Actuator B: Chem 237 597-604, 2016.
• F. Limosani, E. M. Bauer, Top-Down N-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots for Multiple Purposes: Heavy Metal Detection and Intracellular Fluorescence, 11 (9), 2021.
• L. Cao, X. Wang, M. J. Meziani, F. Lu, H. Wang, P. G. Luo, Y. Lin, B. A. Harruff, L. M. Veca, D. Murray, S.-Y. Xie, Y.-P. Sun, Carbon Dots for Multiphoton Bioimaging, J Am Chem Soc 129 (37), 11318-11319, 2007.
• L. Zheng, Y. Chi, Y. Dong, J. Lin, B. Wang, Electrochemiluminescence of Water-Soluble Carbon Nanocrystals Released Electrochemically from Graphite, J Am Chem Soc 131 (13), 4564-4565, 2009.
• A. Khayal, V. Dawane, M. A. Amin, V. Tirth, V. K. Yadav, A. Algahtani, S. H. Khan, S. Islam, K. K. Yadav, B.-H. Jeon, Advances in the Methods for the Synthesis of Carbon Dots and Their Emerging Applications, Polymers 13 (18), 3190, 2021.
• [50] Z.-A. Qiao, Y. Wang, Y. Gao, H. Li, T. Dai, Y. Liu, Q. Huo, Commercially activated carbon as the source for producing multicolor photoluminescent carbon dots by chemical oxidation, Chem Commun 46 (46), 8812-8814, 2010.
• H. B. Ahmed, H. E. Emam, Environmentally exploitable biocide/fluorescent metal marker carbon quantum dots, RSC Adv 10 (70), 42916-42929, 2020.
• Y.-P. Sun, X. Wang, F. Lu, L. Cao, M. J. Meziani, P. G. Luo, L. Gu, L. M. Veca, Doped Carbon Nanoparticles as a New Platform for Highly Photoluminescent Dots, J Phys Chem C 112 (47), 18295-18298, 2008.
• C. H. Lei, X. E. Zhao, S. L. Jiao, L. He, Y. Li, S. Y. Zhu, J. M. You, A turn-on fluorescent sensor for the detection of melamine based on the anti-quenching ability of Hg2+ to carbon nanodots, Anal Method 8 (22), 4438-4444, 2016.
• A. B. Bourlinos, A. Stassinopoulos, D. Anglos, R. Zboril, V. Georgakilas, E. P. Giannelis, Photoluminescent Carbogenic Dots, Chem Mater 20 (14), 4539-4541, 2008.
• M. J. Krysmann, A. Kelarakis, P. Dallas, E. P. Giannelis, Formation Mechanism of Carbogenic Nanoparticles with Dual Photoluminescence Emission, J Am Chem Soc 134 (2), 747-750, 2012.
• X. He, H. Li, Y. Liu, H. Huang, Z. Kang, S.-T. Lee, Water soluble carbon nanoparticles: Hydrothermal synthesis and excellent photoluminescence properties, Colloid Surface B 87 (2), 326-332, 2011.
• C. Zhu, J. Zhai, S. Dong, Bifunctional fluorescent carbon nanodots: green synthesis via soy milk and application as metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction, Chem Commun 48 (75), 9367-9369, 2012.
• H. Li, R. Liu, W. Kong, J. Liu, Y. Liu, L. Zhou, X. Zhang, S.-T. Lee, Z. Kang, Carbon quantum dots with photo-generated proton property as efficient visible light controlled acid catalyst, Nanoscale 6 (2), 867-873, 2014.
• H. Li, X. He, Y. Liu, H. Huang, S. Lian, S.-T. Lee, Z. Kang, One-step ultrasonic synthesis of water-soluble carbon nanoparticles with excellent photoluminescent properties, Carbon 49 (2), 605-609, 2011.
• Z. Ma, H. Ming, H. Huang, Y. Liu, Z. Kang, One-step ultrasonic synthesis of fluorescent N-doped carbon dots from glucose and their visible-light sensitive photocatalytic ability, New J Chem 36 (4), 861-864, 2012.
• R. Liu, D. Wu, S. Liu, K. Koynov, W. Knoll, Q. Li, An Aqueous Route to Multicolor Photoluminescent Carbon Dots Using Silica Spheres as Carriers, Angew Chem Int Edit 48 (25), 4598-4601, 2009.
• J. Zong, Y. Zhu, X. Yang, J. Shen, C. Li, Synthesis of photoluminescent carbogenic dots using mesoporous silica spheres as nanoreactors, Chem Commun 47 (2), 764-766, 2011.
• L. Lu, R. Helgeson, R. M. Jones, D. McBranch, D. Whitten, Superquenching in Cyanine Pendant Poly(l-lysine) Dyes:  Dependence on Molecular Weight, Solvent, and Aggregation, J Am Chem Soc 124 (3), 483-488, 2002.
• F. Yan, Y. Zou, M. Wang, X. Mu, N. Yang, L. Chen, Highly photoluminescent carbon dots-based fluorescent chemosensors for sensitive and selective detection of mercury ions and application of imaging in living cells, Sensor Actuator B-Chem 192 488-495, 2014.
• S. Zhang, Q. Wang, G. Tian, H. Ge, A fluorescent turn-off/on method for detection of Cu2+and oxalate using carbon dots as fluorescent probes in aqueous solution, Mater Lett 115 233-236, 2014.
• Y.-L. Zhang, L. Wang, H.-C. Zhang, Y. Liu, H.-Y. Wang, Z.-H. Kang, S.-T. Lee, Graphitic carbon quantum dots as a fluorescent sensing platform for highly efficient detection of Fe3+ ions, RSC Advances 3 (11), 3733-3738, 2013.
• M. Zheng, Z. Xie, D. Qu, D. Li, P. Du, X. Jing, Z. Sun, On–Off–On Fluorescent Carbon Dot Nanosensor for Recognition of Chromium(VI) and Ascorbic Acid Based on the Inner Filter Effect, ACS Appl Mater Inter 5 (24), 13242-13247, 2013.
• Z. Qian, J. Ma, X. Shan, H. Feng, L. Shao, J. Chen, Highly Luminescent N-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots as an Effective Multifunctional Fluorescence Sensing Platform, Chem – A Eur J 20 (8), 2254-2263, 2014.
• J.-M. Liu, L.-p. Lin, X.-X. Wang, L. Jiao, M.-L. Cui, S.-L. Jiang, W.-L. Cai, L.-H. Zhang, Z.-Y. Zheng, Zr(H2O)2EDTA modulated luminescent carbon dots as fluorescent probes for fluoride detection, Analyst 138 (1), 278-283, 2013.
• X. Lin, G. Gao, L. Zheng, Y. Chi, G. Chen, Encapsulation of Strongly Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots in Metal–Organic Frameworks for Enhancing Chemical Sensing, Anal Chem 86 (2), 1223-1228, 2014.
• X. Hou, F. Zeng, F. Du, S. Wu, Carbon-dot-based fluorescent turn-on sensor for selectively detecting sulfide anions in totally aqueous media and imaging inside live cells, Nanotechnology 24 (33), 335502, 2013.
• S.-L. Hu, K.-Y. Niu, J. Sun, J. Yang, N.-Q. Zhao, X.-W. Du, One-step synthesis of fluorescent carbon nanoparticles by laser irradiation, J Mater Chem 19 (4), 484-488, 2009.
• B. Yin, J. Deng, X. Peng, Q. Long, J. Zhao, Q. Lu, Q. Chen, H. Li, H. Tang, Y. Zhang, S. Yao, Green synthesis of carbon dots with down- and up-conversion fluorescent properties for sensitive detection of hypochlorite with a dual-readout assay, Analyst 138 (21), 6551-6557, 2013.
• Z. Yang, Z. Li, M. Xu, Y. Ma, J. Zhang, Y. Su, F. Gao, H. Wei, L. Zhang, Controllable Synthesis of Fluorescent Carbon Dots and Their Detection Application as Nanoprobes, Nano-Micro Letters 5 (4), 247-259, 2013.
• Y. Zhou, Z.-b. Qu, Y. Zeng, T. Zhou, G. Shi, A novel composite of graphene quantum dots and molecularly imprinted polymer for fluorescent detection of paranitrophenol, Biosens Bioelectron 52 317-323, 2014.
• C. Ji, Y. Zhou, R. M. Leblanc, Z. Peng, Recent Developments of Carbon Dots in Biosensing: A Review, ACS Sensors 5 (9), 2724-2741, 2020.
• X. Terzapulo, A. Kassenova, R. Bukasov, Immunoassays: Analytical and Clinical Performance, Challenges, and Perspectives of SERS Detection in Comparison with Fluorescent Spectroscopic Detection, Int J mol sci 25 (4), 1-33, 2024.
• Y. Yu, C. Li, C. Chen, H. Huang, C. Liang, Y. Lou, X.-B. Chen, Z. Shi, S. Feng, Saccharomyces-derived carbon dots for biosensing pH and vitamin B 12, Talanta 195 117-126, 2019.
• Y. Dai, Z. Liu, Y. Bai, Z. Chen, J. Qin, F. Feng, A novel highly fluorescent S, N, O co-doped carbon dots for biosensing and bioimaging of copper ions in live cells, RSC Advances 8 (73), 42246-42252, 2018.
• H. Shi, J. Wei, L. Qiang, X. Chen, X. Meng, Fluorescent carbon dots for biolmaging and biosensing applications, J biomed nanotechnol 10 (10), 2677-99, 2014.
• T. Sarkar, H. B. Bohidar, P. R. Solanki, Carbon dots-modified chitosan based electrochemical biosensing platform for detection of vitamin D, Int j biol macromol 109 687-697, 2018.
• M. Pan, Z. Xu, Q. Jiang, J. Feng, J. Sun, F. Wang, Interfacial engineering of carbon dots with benzenediboronic acid for fluorescent biosensing, 1 (2), 765-771, 2019.
• Q. Zhang, R. Shi, Q. Li, T. Maimaiti, S. Lan, P. Ouyang, B. Ouyang, Y. Bai, B. Yu, S.-T. Yang, Low toxicity of fluorescent carbon quantum dots to white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, J Environ Chem Eng 9 (1), 104633, 2021.
• V. Sharma, P. Tiwari, S. M. Mobin, Sustainable carbon-dots: recent advances in green carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging, J Mater Chem B 5 (45), 8904-8924, 2017.
• F. Du, Y. Ming, F. Zeng, C. Yu, S. Wu, A low cytotoxic and ratiometric fluorescent nanosensor based on carbon-dots for intracellular pH sensing and mapping, Nanotechnology 24 (36), 365101, 2013.
• S. Barman, M. Sadhukhan, Facile bulk production of highly blue fluorescent graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots and their application as highly selective and sensitive sensors for the detection of mercuric and iodide ions in aqueous media, J Mater Chem 22 (41), 21832-21837, 2012.
• G. Sahay, D. Y. Alakhova, A. V. Kabanov, Endocytosis of nanomedicines, Journal of controlled release: official journal of the Controlled Release Society 145 (3), 182-95, 2010.
• L. W. Zhang, N. A. Monteiro-Riviere, Mechanisms of Quantum Dot Nanoparticle Cellular Uptake, Toxicol Sci 110 (1), 138-155, 2009.
• X. T. Zheng, A. Ananthanarayanan, K. Q. Luo, P. Chen, Glowing Graphene Quantum Dots and Carbon Dots: Properties, Syntheses, and Biological Applications, Small 11 (14), 1620-1636, 2015.
• T. S, R. S. D, Green synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon quantum dots from sugarcane bagasse pulp, Appl Surf Sci 390 435-443, 2016.
• K. Qu, J. Wang, J. Ren, X. Qu, Carbon Dots Prepared by Hydrothermal Treatment of Dopamine as an Effective Fluorescent Sensing Platform for the Label-Free Detection of Iron(III) Ions and Dopamine, Chem – A Eur J 19 (22), 7243-7249, 2013.
• A. Hamidu, W. G. Pitt, Recent Breakthroughs in Using Quantum Dots for Cancer Imaging and Drug Delivery Purposes, Nanomater (Basel, Switzerland) 13 (18), 1-35, 2023.
• P. Devi, S. Saini, K.-H. Kim, The advanced role of carbon quantum dots in nanomedical applications, Biosens Bioelectron 141 111158, 2019.
• S. Chaudhary, A. Umar, K. Bhasin, S. Singh, Applications of Carbon Dots in Nanomedicine, J Biomed Nanotechnol 13, 591–637 13 (6), 591-637, 2017.
• K. Soumya, N. More, M. Choppadandi, D. A. Aishwarya, G. Singh, G. Kapusetti, A comprehensive review on carbon quantum dots as an effective photosensitizer and drug delivery system for cancer treatment, Biomed Technol 4 11-20, 2023.
• H. Wang, S. Yang, L. Chen, Y. Li, P. He, G. Wang, H. Dong, P. Ma, G. Ding, Tumor diagnosis using carbon-based quantum dots: Detection based on the hallmarks of cancer, Bioact mater 33 174-222, 2024.
• K. Naik, S. Chaudhary, L. Ye, A. S. Parmar, A Strategic Review on Carbon Quantum Dots for Cancer-Diagnostics and Treatment, Front Bioeng Biotech 10 2022.
• V. Etacheri, C. Di Valentin, J. Schneider, D. Bahnemann, S. C. Pillai, Visible-light activation of TiO2 photocatalysts: Advances in theory and experiments, J Photoch Photobio C 25 1-29, 2015.
• S. Masha, O. S. Oluwafemi, Synthesis of blue and green emitting carbon-based quantum dots (CBQDs) and their cell viability against colon and bladder cancer cell lines, Mater Lett 283 128790, 2021.
• C. Fowley, N. Nomikou, A. P. McHale, B. McCaughan, J. F. Callan, Extending the tissue penetration capability of conventional photosensitisers: a carbon quantum dot-protoporphyrin IX conjugate for use in two-photon excited photodynamic therapy, Chem commun (Cambridge, England) 49 (79), 8934-6, 2013.
• S. Bayda, E. Amadio, Carbon dots for cancer nanomedicine: a bright future, Nanoscale Adv. 3 (18), 5183-5221, 2021.
• M. R. Biswal, S. Bhatia, Carbon Dot Nanoparticles: Exploring the Potential Use for Gene Delivery in Ophthalmic Diseases, Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) 11 (4), 2021.
• D. Tolan, V. Gandin, L. Morrison, A. El-Nahas, C. Marzano, D. Montagner, A. Erxleben, Oxidative Stress Induced by Pt(IV) Pro-drugs Based on the Cisplatin Scaffold and Indole Carboxylic Acids in Axial Position, Sci Rep. 6 29367, 2016.
• A. Ray Chowdhuri, S. Tripathy, C. Haldar, S. Roy, S. K. Sahu, Single step synthesis of carbon dot embedded chitosan nanoparticles for cell imaging and hydrophobic drug delivery, J Mater Chem B 3 (47), 9122-9131, 2015.
• X. Li, K. Vinothini, T. Ramesh, M. Rajan, Combined photodynamic-chemotherapy investigation of cancer cells using carbon quantum dot-based drug carrier system, Drug delivery 27 (1), 791-804, 2020.