Antioxidant and anti-aging carbon quantum dots using tannic acid

Abstract

Overexpression of collagenase, elastase, and tyrosinase is caused by external factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and stress, resulting in wrinkle formation and freckles through the loss of skin elasticity and skin pigmentation. In this study, we developed novel carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with antioxidant and anti-aging properties using tannic acid as a carbon source through a simple microwave-assisted pyrolysis method. The synthesized tannic acid-derived CQDs (T-CQDs) showed bright blue fluorescence (QY = 28.2 ± 4.0%), exhibiting maximum emission at 430 nm under 350 nm excitation. Even though small amount of the T-CQDs (3 μg ml−1) was used, they exhibited excellent free radical scavenging ability (82.8 ± 4.3%). Also, the T-CQDs (10 μg ml−1) revealed remarkable inhibitory activity against skin aging-related collagenase (77.6 ± 4.8%), elastase (52.6 ± 1.0%), and tyrosinase (44.2 ± 1.3%), demonstrating their antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Furthermore, their antioxidant and anti-aging properties were superior to those of tannic acid, L-ascorbic acid, and quercetin used as positive controls. Finally, the T-CQDs effectively suppressed UV-induced reactive oxygen species generation by 30% at the cellular levels and showed high cell viability (99.7 ± 0.8%) even at 500 μg ml−1. These results demonstrate that the T-CQDs with superior antioxidant, anti-aging properties, and low cytotoxicity can be utilized as novel anti-aging materials in cosmetic and nanomedicine fields.

Gelatin/Carrageenan-Based Functional Films with Carbon Dots from Enoki Mushroom for Active Food Packaging Applications

“…For this reason, the DPPH scavenging activity could only reach its maximum value of ∼29% even for the film with the highest mCD content (Gel/Carr/mCD 5 ). Similar antioxidant activity of CDs was reported in the lactic acid bacteria carbon dot-added bacterial cellulose film and the chlorogenic acid carbon dot-added poly­(vinyl alcohol)-based film. , It is believed that the high antioxidant activity of CDs is due to the presence of numerous electron-donating groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, etc. , Nevertheless, mCD incorporation greatly enhanced the free radical scavenging effect, providing a film with superior antioxidant activity than the neat Gel/Carr film.…”

“…The strong antioxidant activity of the mCDs provided a distinctive antioxidant activity to the mCD-added films depending on the concentration. Carbon dots are known to be excellent antioxidants, and their activity depends on the source and method of manufacture. − The free radical scavenging activity of the neat Gel/Carr film was ∼5 and ∼7% for DPPH and ABTS assays, respectively. However, when 1 wt % mCDs were added, the ABTS scavenging activity of the Gel/Carr film increased sharply to almost 65%, whereas the DPPH scavenging activity increased to ∼15%.…”

“…39,50 It is believed that the high antioxidant activity of CDs is due to the presence of numerous electron-donating groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, etc. 56,57 Nevertheless, mCD incorporation greatly enhanced the free radical scavenging effect, providing a film with superior antioxidant activity than the neat Gel/Carr film.…”

Polyphenol derived bioactive carbon quantum dot-incorporated multifunctional hydrogels as an oxidative stress attenuator for antiaging and in vivo wound-healing applications

“…Polyphenolic compounds with abundant surface -OH moieties are well known for their excellent antioxidant properties. 26 To develop CQDs with good antioxidant and antiaging properties, 1,3,5-trihydroxybenzene was used as the carbon precursor. The CQD formation process is illustrated in Fig.…”

Fluorescent CQD-Doped Styrene Acrylic Emulsion Coating Film with Enhanced Optical Properties

“…CQDs have been used in attempts to produce cosmetics with antiaging and antioxidant properties. Tannic acid-derived CQDs with high quantum yield, produced via microwave-assisted pyrolysis, exhibit superior antiaging and antioxidant performance at a low dose and provide great potential applications in nanomedicine and cosmetics [ 12 ]. Furthermore, a ZnO/CQD coating was fabricated on brackets, presenting outstanding bactericidal properties under natural light.…”