<p>The review explores the pivotal role of cellulose in enhancing the sensing capabilities of fluorescent chemo-sensors, particularly carbon dots (CDs) and delineates cellulose’s multifaceted contributions as both a precursor and stabilizing matrix, highlighting its structural adaptability across varied forms—hydrogels, aerogels, films—to bolster the stability, sensitivity, and selectivity of these sensors. Cellulose’s structural versatility enables advanced functionalization, fostering a robust platform that amplifies the stability and functional efficiency of CDs across diverse sensing paradigms. The investigation encompasses utilization of cellulose as precursor for CDs, cellulose nanocrystals and matrix for the integration of CDs, elucidating their collective impact on advancing fluorescence-based detection technologies.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>