Carbon Nanomaterial Fluorescent Probes and Their Biological Applications

Abstract

Fluorescent carbon nanomaterials have broadly useful chemical and photophysical attributes that are conducive to applications in biology. In this review, we focus on materials whose photophysics allow for the use of these materials in biomedical and environmental applications, with emphasis on imaging, biosensing, and cargo delivery. The review focuses primarily on graphitic carbon nanomaterials including graphene and its derivatives, carbon nanotubes, as well as carbon dots and carbon nanohoops. Recent advances in and future prospects of these fields are discussed at depth, and where appropriate, references to reviews pertaining to older literature are provided.

Drug Delivery Nano-Platforms for Advanced Cancer Therapy

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be advantageous for biological imaging applications as fluorescent probes with superior resolution [228]. Moreover, compared to fluorescent nanomaterials synthesized from heavy metals, CNMs are biocompatible, and their surface and ends can be functionalized to fine-tune their biointerfacial properties.…”

“…CNTs have been used to contrast images of intact tissues at lower excitation powers and map the tumor region, which can be coupled with the delivery of antitumor therapeutic agents. The stable photoluminescence of CNTs allows long-term tracking (up to hours) the motion of kinesins (intracellular motor proteins), organelles including chloroplast and mitochondria in live cells [228].…”

Light-Induced Self-Assembled Polydiacetylene/Carbon Dot Functional “Honeycomb”

“…Carbon dots (C-dots) are quasi-zero dimensional nanoparticles synthesized from readily available carbonaceous building blocks. − C-dots are biocompatible and possess tunable optoelectronic properties. − Accounting for the electron rich graphitic core and surface functional groups, C-dots can interact with PDA species, yielding interesting composite nanostructures. − Broad-spectral absorbance, ranging from the ultraviolet (UV) to the infrared regions, and excellent photostability have also made C-dots and C-dot composites vehicles for light-mediated catalysis. , Moreover, the extensive surface area and electrical conductivity furnished by C-dots have been exploited in varied electrochemical applications. , …”

Multimodal biosensing systems based on metal nanoparticles

“…13,14 However, some of these nanomaterials have some limitations in practical application, which hinder their use as signal probes for multimodal biosensors. For example, double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in graphene in CNPs and their derived carbon nanotubes do not have fluorescence properties, 15 while some graphene derivatives, such as graphene oxide (GO), also have problems such as poor electrical conductivity, low sensitivity, and weak anti-interference capabilities. 10 Among complex materials, most MOFs have poor electrical conductivity, 16 and MXenes are easily oxidized in humid air, which is not conducive to their long-term application.…”