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Abstract <p>Carbon dots (CDs), a promising nanomaterial with unique physicochemical properties, including ultra-small size (&lt; 10&#xa0;nm), high fluorescence quantum yield, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable surface functionalities. Synthesized from natural or synthetic precursors using top-down or bottom-up methods. CDs possess functional groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine, allowing easy surface modification and targeted applications. Their strong photostability and excitation-dependent emission make them suitable for bioimaging, biosensing, and theranostics. Heteroatom doping (e.g., nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus) improves charge transfer and catalytic activity, enhancing applications in drug delivery, antimicrobial therapies, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, CDs can cross biological barriers, including the blood–brain barrier, opening opportunities in neurotherapeutics and cancer treatment. As research progresses, optimizing synthesis techniques, improving stability, and developing scalable production methods are essential for advancing CDs toward clinical applications. With further development, CDs hold great promise for next-generation diagnostics and targeted therapeutics across biomedical fields.</p> Lay summary <p>Carbon dots (CDs) are a versatile nanomaterial that is noted for the properties of being ultra-small, exhibiting intense fluorescence, and being biocompatible. They cross the barrier, such as the blood–brain barrier, for the targeted use of neurotherapeutics and cancer treatment. Functional groups on the surface of CDs assist in drug delivery, biosensing and imaging and subsequent accurate diagnosis and therapeutics. The recent synthesis approaches and functionalization methods for CDs, such as heteroatom doping, help enhance their performance in biomedical applications. In the future, CDs will be optimized for scalability and safety, providing an integral role in diagnostics and tailored treatment for numerous medical applications.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Design Strategies and Therapeutic Potential of Functionalized Carbon Dots in Nanomedicine

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月30日

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  • Vaidevi Sethuraman,
  • Kumar Janakiraman,
  • Karthiga Subramanian,
  • Geethanjali Sampath

摘要

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs), a promising nanomaterial with unique physicochemical properties, including ultra-small size (< 10 nm), high fluorescence quantum yield, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable surface functionalities. Synthesized from natural or synthetic precursors using top-down or bottom-up methods. CDs possess functional groups like hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine, allowing easy surface modification and targeted applications. Their strong photostability and excitation-dependent emission make them suitable for bioimaging, biosensing, and theranostics. Heteroatom doping (e.g., nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus) improves charge transfer and catalytic activity, enhancing applications in drug delivery, antimicrobial therapies, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, CDs can cross biological barriers, including the blood–brain barrier, opening opportunities in neurotherapeutics and cancer treatment. As research progresses, optimizing synthesis techniques, improving stability, and developing scalable production methods are essential for advancing CDs toward clinical applications. With further development, CDs hold great promise for next-generation diagnostics and targeted therapeutics across biomedical fields.

Lay summary

Carbon dots (CDs) are a versatile nanomaterial that is noted for the properties of being ultra-small, exhibiting intense fluorescence, and being biocompatible. They cross the barrier, such as the blood–brain barrier, for the targeted use of neurotherapeutics and cancer treatment. Functional groups on the surface of CDs assist in drug delivery, biosensing and imaging and subsequent accurate diagnosis and therapeutics. The recent synthesis approaches and functionalization methods for CDs, such as heteroatom doping, help enhance their performance in biomedical applications. In the future, CDs will be optimized for scalability and safety, providing an integral role in diagnostics and tailored treatment for numerous medical applications.

Graphical Abstract