Recent advances in carbon quantum dots for virus detection, as well as inhibition and treatment of viral infection

Abstract

In the last decade, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), as a novel class of carbon-based nanomaterials, have received increasing attention due to their distinct properties. CQDs are ultimately small nanoparticles with an average size below 10 nm, possessing high water solubility, alluring photoluminescence, photostability, excellent biocompatibility, low/none toxicity, environmental friendliness, and high sustainability, etc. In history, there are intermittent threats from viruses to humans, animals and plants worldwide, resulting in enormous crises and impacts on our life, environment, economy and society. Some recent studies have unveiled that certain types of CQDs exhibited high and potent antiviral activities against various viruses such as human coronavirus, arterivirus, norovirus and herpesvirus. Moreover, they have been successfully explored and developed for different virus detections including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This article exclusively overviews and discusses the recent progress of designing, synthesizing, modifying/functionalizing and developing CQDs towards effective virus detection as well as the inhibition and treatment of viral infection. Their mechanisms and applications against various pathogenic viruses are addressed. The latest outcomes for combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) utilizing CQDs are also highlighted. It can be envisaged that CQDs could further benefit the development of virus detectors and antiviral agents with added broad-spectrum activity and cost-effective production.

Application of Quantum Dots in Lateral Flow Immunoassays: Non-Communicable and Communicable Diseases

“…The unique properties (i.e. water solubility, small size ~10 nm, high sustainability, alluring photoluminescence) of carbon QDs (CQDs) have seen their application in the detection, inhibition, and treatment of viral infections [35]. Research on the interaction of QDs with genetic material (i.e.…”

State-of-the-Art Smart and Intelligent Nanobiosensors for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis

“…CQDs have shown tremendous potential in various applications such as photothermal therapy, drug delivery, bioimaging, and biosensing, due to their state-of-the-art properties for example, conductivity, optical detection, high chemical stability, outstanding biocompatibility, and low cost. Furthermore, with brilliant accuracy, they have demonstrated the incredible capability to detect and exterminate several pathogenic viruses, including the SARS-CoV-2 [ 137 ]. Loczechin, et al developed carbon-based quantum dots for the potential diagnosis of human coronavirus (HCoV-229E), and boronic acid improved CQDs [ 138 ].…”

Progress on Applying Carbon Dots for Inhibition of RNA Virus Infection

“…According to the viral protein confirmation, the prepared nanocomposites significantly suppressed the infection of HVS-1 under satisfactorily non cytotoxic concentration. And the mechanism for nanostructures to treat HVS-1 was that they prevented the synthesis of viral negative-strand RNA and viral budding 60 .…”