Review
Recent advances in the modification of carbon-based quantum dots for biomedical applications

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111756Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Biomedical applications of carbon-based quantum dots (including carbon quantum dots and graphene quantum dots)

  • Carbon-based quantum dots synthesis techniques

  • Surface modification strategies to enhance carbon-based quantum dots characteristics

  • Doping, surface functionalization, polymer capping, nanocomposite and core-shell structures as efficient modification techniques

Abstract

Carbon-based quantum dots (CDs) are mainly divided into two sub-groups; carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs), which exhibit outstanding photoluminescence (PL) properties, low toxicity, superior biocompatibility and facile functionalization. Regarding these features, they have been promising candidates for biomedical science and engineering applications. In this work, we reviewed the efforts made to modify these zero-dimensional nano-materials to obtain the best properties for bio-imaging, drug and gene delivery, cancer therapy, and bio-sensor applications. Five main surface modification techniques with outstanding results are investigated, including doping, surface functionalization, polymer capping, nano-composite and core-shell structures, and the drawbacks and challenges in each of these methods are discussed.

Abbreviations

ADBA
9,10-anthracendipropionic acid
AEAP
N- β-(aminoethyl)-γaminopropyltrimethoxysilane
af-GQD
Amino functionalized graphene quantum dot
AIEE
Aggregation induced emission enhancement
AIEQ
Aggregation induced emission quenching
AIRS
Aggregation induced red-shift spectra
ATP
Adenosine tri phosphate
ATRP
Atom transfer radical polymerization
BBB
Blood-brain barrier
BSA
Bovine serum albumin
CD
Carbon-based quantum dot
CFTR
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator
C-GQD
Graphene quantum dot synthesized with carbon nanotubes
CK2
Casein kinase II
Cl-GQD-N
Chlorine and N-doped graphene quantum dot
CLSM
Confocal laser scanning microscopy
CMC
Carboxymethyl cellulose
CQD
Carbon quantum dot
CQE
Quantum confinement effect
CS
Chitosan
Cu-CQD
Copper-doped carbon quantum dot
Cys-GQD
Cysteine-functionalized graphene quantum dot
DA
Dopamine
DCPL
Down-conversion photoluminescence
DDA
Dodecyl amine
DMF
Dimethyl formamide
DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide
DOX
Doxorubicin
ECL
Electrochemiluminescence
EDA
Ethanediamine
FA
Folic acid
FA-GQD
Folic acid encapsulated graphene quantum dot
FA-HeLa
Folic acid treated HeLa
FDA
Food and Drug Administration
FL
Fluorescence
GMP
Good Manufacturing Practice
GO
Graphene oxide
GOox
Glucose oxidase
GQD
Graphene quantum dot
GSH
Glutathione
HER
Herceptin
HFFF
Human foreskin fibroblast cells
H-GQD
Hydrothermally treated-graphene quantum dot
HOMO
Highest occupied molecular orbital
HTC
Hydrothermal carbonization
L-CD
Lignin hybridized carbon dot
LDH
Lactate dehydrogenase
MDCL
Madin derby kidney canine
MIP
Molecularly imprinted polymer
MNP
Magnetic nanoparticle
MOF
Metal-organic framework
MPS
Mononuclear phagocyte system
MSN
Mesoporous silica nanoparticle
MSS
Mercaptosuccinic acid
MTT
3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide
MW
Microwave
N-CQD
Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot
N-GQD
Nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dot
NIPAAM
N-Isopropylacrylamide
NM-CQD
Nitrogen -doped microporous carbon quantum dot
NPs:
Nanoparticles
NS- GQD
Nitrogen and Sulfur-doped graphene quantum dot
OD
Optical density
OFG
Oxygen-functional group
Ox-TMB
Oxidized Tetramethylbenzidine
PAMAM
Polyamidoamine
PDMAEMA
Poly-[2-(dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate]
PEG
Polyethylene glycol
PL
Photoluminescence
PL QY
Photoluminescence quantum yield
PLA
Plasma pulsed laser ablation
PMPDSAH
Poly[N-(3-(methacryloylamino) propyl)-N, N-Dimethyl-N-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide]
PS
Photosensitized
PTT
Photothermal therapy
PVP
Polyvinylpyrrolidone
QD
Quantum dot
QY
Quantum yield
RES
Reticuloendothelial system
RGD
Arginylglycylaspartic acid
rGO
Reduced graphene oxide
Rh
Rhodamine
ROS
Reactive oxygen species
S-CQD
Sulfur-doped carbon quantum dot
s-GQD
single-layered graphene quantum dot
S-GQD
Sulfur-doped graphene quantum dot
SLN
Sentinel Nodes
TMB
Tetramethylbenzidine
TNBC
Triple negative breast cancer
TSC
Thiosemicarbazide
TSC- CQD
Thiosemicarbazide doped carbon quantum dot
UC NP
Up-conversion nanoparticle
UCPL
Up-conversion photoluminescence

Keywords

Carbon-based quantum dots
Surface modification
Biomedical application

Cited by (0)

1

Authors contributed equally at this work.

View Abstract