Abstract
The fluorescent carbon dot (C-dot) is a new class of carbon nanomaterials. It has a discrete or quasispherical structure, typically measures less than 10 nm and contains sp2/sp3 carbon, oxygen/nitrogen-based groups and surface-modified functional groups. Compared with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), C-dots offer much lower toxicity and a better biocompatibility profile. Their other favorable features include easy and inexpensive synthesis and surface modification potential. C-dots can be morphologically classified into graphene-based quantum dots (GQDs) and amorphous carbon nanodots (ACNDs). Numerous methods have been developed to synthesize C-dots, and are mainly divided into ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ routes. In the top-down route, C-dots (mostly GQDs) is derived from the separation of large carbon precursors. The ‘bottom-up’ method primarily involves the dehydration, polymerization and carbonization of small molecules to form the GQDs and ACNDs through thermal/hydrothermal synthesis, microwave irradiation, and solution chemistry. Potential applications of C-dots have been explored in a number of cellular and in-vivo imaging approaches. However, some difficulties remain, including limited penetration depth and poorly controlled in-vivo pharmacokinetics, which depends on multiple factors such as the morphology, physiochemical properties, surface chemistry and formulation of C-dots. The exact mechanism of in-vivo biodistribution, cellular uptake and long-term toxicological effect of C-dots still need to be elucidated. An integrated multi-disciplinary approach involving chemists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, clinicians, and regulatory bodies at the early stage is essential to enable the clinical application of C-dots.
Keywords: Carbon Dots (C-dots), Photoluminescence (PL), Near-infrared (NIR), Quantum yield (QY), Optical Imaging, Iron oxide, Fe3O4.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Opportunities and Challenges of Fluorescent Carbon Dots in Translational Optical Imaging
Volume: 21 Issue: 37
Author(s): Junqing Wang, Gang Liu, Ken Cham-Fai Leung, Romaric Loffroy, Pu-Xuan Lu and Yì Xiáng J. Wáng
Affiliation:
Keywords: Carbon Dots (C-dots), Photoluminescence (PL), Near-infrared (NIR), Quantum yield (QY), Optical Imaging, Iron oxide, Fe3O4.
Abstract: The fluorescent carbon dot (C-dot) is a new class of carbon nanomaterials. It has a discrete or quasispherical structure, typically measures less than 10 nm and contains sp2/sp3 carbon, oxygen/nitrogen-based groups and surface-modified functional groups. Compared with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), C-dots offer much lower toxicity and a better biocompatibility profile. Their other favorable features include easy and inexpensive synthesis and surface modification potential. C-dots can be morphologically classified into graphene-based quantum dots (GQDs) and amorphous carbon nanodots (ACNDs). Numerous methods have been developed to synthesize C-dots, and are mainly divided into ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’ routes. In the top-down route, C-dots (mostly GQDs) is derived from the separation of large carbon precursors. The ‘bottom-up’ method primarily involves the dehydration, polymerization and carbonization of small molecules to form the GQDs and ACNDs through thermal/hydrothermal synthesis, microwave irradiation, and solution chemistry. Potential applications of C-dots have been explored in a number of cellular and in-vivo imaging approaches. However, some difficulties remain, including limited penetration depth and poorly controlled in-vivo pharmacokinetics, which depends on multiple factors such as the morphology, physiochemical properties, surface chemistry and formulation of C-dots. The exact mechanism of in-vivo biodistribution, cellular uptake and long-term toxicological effect of C-dots still need to be elucidated. An integrated multi-disciplinary approach involving chemists, pharmacologists, toxicologists, clinicians, and regulatory bodies at the early stage is essential to enable the clinical application of C-dots.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Wang Junqing, Liu Gang, Leung Cham-Fai Ken, Loffroy Romaric, Lu Pu-Xuan and J. Wáng Xiáng Yì, Opportunities and Challenges of Fluorescent Carbon Dots in Translational Optical Imaging, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2015; 21 (37) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150917093232
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612821666150917093232 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Identification of Phosphoproteins and their Impact as Biomarkers in Cancer Therapeutics
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Structure-Activity Evaluation of N-benzyl-5-substituted Indole-3-imine Derivatives and their Amine Congeners as Bovine Testicular Hyaluronidase (BTH) Inhibitor
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery ES-MDA: Enhanced Similarity-based MiRNA-Disease Association
Current Protein & Peptide Science Melatonin as a Pleiotropic Molecule with Therapeutic Potential for Type 2 Diabetes and Cancer
Current Medicinal Chemistry Heparanase Patents: Dim Past and Bright Future
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery The Functional Role of Long Non-coding RNA UCA1 in Human Multiple Cancers: a Review Study
Current Molecular Medicine Biological Imaging and Spectroscopy of pH
Current Organic Chemistry Pharmacogenomics of Arylamine N-acetyltransferase
Current Pharmacogenomics Disruption of the Keap1-Containing Ubiquitination Complex as an Antioxidant Therapy
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Role of Chromogranin A (CgA) in Monitoring Patients with Prostate Cancer Under Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Comparison with Prostatic Specific Antigen (PSA)
Current Radiopharmaceuticals DYRK1A Kinase Inhibitors with Emphasis on Cancer
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Scutellaria Flavone Cyclaneaminol Mannich Base Derivatives as Novel CDK1 Inhibitors
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting the Cancer Biomarker CD47: A Review on the Diverse Mechanisms of the CD47 Pathway in Cancer Treatment
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Integrins in Drug Targeting-RGD Templates in Toxins
Current Pharmaceutical Design Growth Restriction: Etiology, Maternal and Neonatal Outcome. A Review
Current Women`s Health Reviews Radiolabelled Probes Targeting Tumor Hypoxia for Personalized Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Multiple Means by Which Nitric Oxide can Antagonize Photodynamic Therapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Design and Structure of Peptide and Peptidomimetic Antagonists of Protein- Protein Interaction
Current Protein & Peptide Science Overcoming Drug Resistance and Treating Advanced Prostate Cancer
Current Drug Targets Dual Acting Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry