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Review
. 2024 Feb 22;9(9):9849-9864.
doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05537. eCollection 2024 Mar 5.

Carbon Dot Based Carbon Nanoparticles as Potent Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Anticancer Agents

Narmin Hamaamin Hussen  1 , Aso Hameed Hasan  2   3 , Yar Muhammed FaqiKhedr  1 , Andrey Bogoyavlenskiy  4 , Ajmal R Bhat  5 , Joazaizulfazli Jamalis  2
Affiliations
Review

Carbon Dot Based Carbon Nanoparticles as Potent Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Anticancer Agents

Narmin Hamaamin Hussen et al. ACS Omega. .

Abstract

Antimicrobial and anticancer drugs are widely used due to increasing widespread infectious diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacterial, fungal, viral agents, or cancer cells, which are one of the major causes of mortality globally. Nevertheless, several microorganisms developed resistance to antibiotics as a result of genetic changes that have occurred over an extended period. Carbon-based materials, particularly carbon dots (C-dots), are potential candidates for antibacterial and anticancer nanomaterials due to their low toxicity, ease of synthesis and functionalization, high dispersibility in aqueous conditions, and promising biocompatibility. In this Review, the content is divided into four sections. The first section concentrates on C-dot structures, surface functionalization, and morphology. Following that, we summarize C-dot classifications and preparation methods such as arc discharge, laser ablation, electrochemical oxidation, and so on. The antimicrobial applications of C-dots as antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents both in vivo and in vitro are discussed. Finally, we thoroughly examined the anticancer activity displayed by C-dots.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Image (a) showcases the top and side views of disk-shaped C-dots. These types of C-dots are composed of sheets that mimic graphene and are connected in a honeycomb form by aromatic carbon rings. (b) Core–shell schematic view of a typical quasi-spherical C-dot structure.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structures of the four different types of C-dots: graphene quantum dots (GQ-dots), carbon quantum dots (CQ-dots), carbon nanodots (CN-dots), and carbonized polymer dots (CP-dots).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mechanism of action of C-dots’ photoinduced antibacterial activity.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sources of C-dots and their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Potentially generated triazole-based carbon dots that are resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication enzymes like helicase and 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) are blocked, ultimately inhibiting human coronavirus.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Preparation of nitrogen- and phosphorus-doped C-dots (PNHCDs) loaded with DOX with tumors that were treated with PNHCDs-DOX instead of free DOX.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Schematic illustration for the multifunctional C-dot-Trans-Dox hybrid formed and the transferrin receptors present on both tumor cells and the BBB.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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