Carbon Dots for In Vivo Bioimaging and Theranostics

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs), a kind of carbon material discovered accidentally, exhibit unexpected advantages in fluorescence imaging/sensing such as photostability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. For emerging theranostics, an interdiscipline created by integrating therapy and diagnostics, CDs are good candidates when they are combined with targeted chemo/gene/photodynamic/photothermal therapeutic moieties. Here, the development of CDs in nanomedicine is reviewed from their use as original imaging agents and/or drug carriers to multifunctional theranostic systems. Finally, the challenges and prospects of the next‐generation of CD‐based theranostics for clinical applications are also discussed.

Carbon Dots as a Promising Green Photocatalyst for Free Radical and ATRP‐Based Radical Photopolymerization with Blue LEDs

“…CDs have been known as novel fluorescent carbon nanomaterials exhibiting sizes below 10 nm. [10] Photoluminescent CDs with ultrastable photoluminescence,e asy preparation, and sustainable raw materials,have been employed in numerous areas including bioimaging, [11] optoelectronics, [12] and photocatalysis. [13] CDs also demonstrate interesting electrochemical redox properties.…”

Nanomaterials Innovation

“…[7] Carbon dots are commonly applied as both imaging agents and/ or drug carriers, enabling this material a promising multifunctional theranostic system. [8] Furthermore, after being prepared in nanostructures, traditional photo therapy agents show enhanced performance against cancer. Such nanophoto sensitizers provide better efficacy when they are applied in photo dynamic therapy and photothermal therapy.…”

“…After the functionalization of target molecules, the lanthanide‐doped nanoparticles are deeply applied in high‐sensitivity biosensing and bioimaging . Carbon dots are commonly applied as both imaging agents and/or drug carriers, enabling this material a promising multi‐functional theranostic system . Furthermore, after being prepared in nanostructures, traditional phototherapy agents show enhanced performance against cancer.…”

Development of Blood‐Cell‐Selective Fluorescent Biodots for Lysis‐Free Leukocyte Imaging and Differential Counting in Whole Blood

“…Biomolecule‐derived carbon dots (biodots) is a new class of fluorophores that exhibits bright fluorescence with excellent photostability, superb aqueous solubility, and good biocompatibility . In this work, blood‐cell‐selective biodots derived from hydroxyl group containing amino acids (i.e., serine or threonine) are molecularly engineered by adding differently charged polymers into the hydrothermal synthesis to form multifunctional amino acid–polymer biodots for fluorescent blood cell imaging and counting.…”

“…Biomolecule-derived carbon dots (biodots) is a new class of fluorophores that exhibits bright fluorescence with excellent photostability, superb aqueous solubility, and good biocompatibility. [8][9][10][11][12][13][14] In this work, blood-cell-selective biodots derived from hydroxyl group containing amino acids (i.e., serine or threonine) are molecularly engineered by adding differently charged polymers into the hydrothermal synthesis to form multifunctional amino acid-polymer biodots for fluorescent blood cell imaging and counting. Particularly, it was found that the polyethylenimine (PEI)-passivated biodots (Type I) can label both RBCs and WBCs, where the fluorescence intensity of labeled WBCs is two orders of magnitude stronger than the RBCs.…”