Applications of carbon dots on tumour theranostics

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) have been extensively investigated as prime candidates for developing tumour theranostic platform due to their tunable fluorescence emission and excitation, good photostability, high water solubility and biocompatibility. Herein, we will update the recent research and latest development on the preparation, hydrophilicity, biotoxicity and optical property of CDs, as well as their applications in multimodal bioimaging and anticancer drug delivery. We will mainly highlight their applications in in vivo imaging and tumour‐targeted theranostics with a special emphasis on large amino acid‐mimicking carbon quantum dots‐based tumour theranostics through a large neutral amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1)‐mediated targeted strategy. Finally, we will also discuss the current status, key challenges and future directions of CDs in tumour theranostics. We expect that this review will summarize recent advances to inspire more researches on CDs for biomedical and clinical applications in the near future.

Carbon dots for cancer nanomedicine: a bright future

“…[318][319][320] Consequently, CDs have been recognized as effective tumor theranostic agents for in vivo imaging and tumor therapy (table 1). 321 Table 1. Some theragnostic agents based on CDs.…”

“…For instance, hypoxic environment in tumors limits therapeutic efficacy of PDT and the use of PTT damages the normal tissue around the tumor. 321,340,341 Therefore, many major challenges must be overcome.…”

“…Tumor-targeted CDs can specifically bind to receptors overexpressed on cancer cell membrane. 321,342 Indeed, the receptor-mediated therapy of CDs is important for drug delivery. 321 Jianping Li et al showed that Hyaluronic acid (HA)modified carbon dots (HA-CDs) obtained by hydrothermal treatment with branch-poly (ethylene mine) and citric acid, specifically binds to CD44, which is overexpressed in several cancer cells.…”

“…321,342 Indeed, the receptor-mediated therapy of CDs is important for drug delivery. 321 Jianping Li et al showed that Hyaluronic acid (HA)modified carbon dots (HA-CDs) obtained by hydrothermal treatment with branch-poly (ethylene mine) and citric acid, specifically binds to CD44, which is overexpressed in several cancer cells. Furthermore, in this study antitumor effect of HA-CDs was observed in diverse tumor models, which give it a good application prospect for targeted cancer therapy.…”

Generating long‐wavelength absorption bands with enhanced deep red fluorescence and photothermal performance in fused carbon dots aggregates

“…After five cycles of laser heating and natural cooling, no substantial deterioration of the photothermal performance was observed in f‐CDAs aqueous solution, indicating f‐CDAs can be used as a good photothermal agent for PTT application. [ 15,35,36 ]…”