The application of carbon dots in tumor immunotherapy: Researches and prospects

Abstract

Since the rapid development of nanomedicine in oncotherapy, multiple nanomaterials are adopted to regulate the immune system in cancer individuals. Tumor immunotherapy enhances the immune function of patients to achieve the purpose of killing tumor cells by utilizing the organism immune mechanism. As emerging inorganic carbon nanoparticles, carbon dots (CDs) have been found as photosensitizers, vaccines, immunoadjuvants, and so on for cancer treatment due to their unique structure and property, such as effective platforms for drug delivery, immunomodulation, and phototherapy. In this review, we mainly discuss the recent application of CDs in tumor immunotherapy and the prospects of CDs in the field of immune medicine. By assessing the achievements and challenges of CDs in tumor immunotherapy, our review would provide mechanistic insights into the evolution of future nanomedicine.

Carbon Dots for Future Prospects: Synthesis, Characterizations and Recent Applications: A Review (2019–2023)

“…These nano-sized can also be made easily, quickly, and in accordance with green chemistry concepts. With their easily adjustable optical properties, CDs are used in a variety of fields, including bioimaging, nanomedicine, drug delivery, solar cells, LEDs, photo-catalysis, electro-catalysis, and other closely related ones [23,32,89,146,147].…”

“…Although, according to their virility formation, nanostructures, properties and mechanism; C-dots [28] are mostly categorised into carbon quantum dots (CQDs),graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and carbonized polymer dots (CPDs) [29,30]. C-dots as a special type of fluorescent material with outstanding optical and photoelectric properties and low toxicity [6,31,32]. The difficulties and potential of these nanomaterials are reviewed, with a focus on how carbon dots can be used to improve the efficiency of photovoltaics and white LED.…”

Design Principles for Immunomodulatory Biomaterials

“…Indeed, phagocytosis is a crucial mechanism the immune system deploys to eliminate pathogens, foreign particles, and cellular debris. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate that some carbon-based nanomaterials activate phagocytic cells and enhance the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. ,,,,,,− For example, graphene oxide infiltrates mice liver and spleen to alter the population of different types of immune cells in these organs . Also, exposure of macrophages to graphene nanomaterials activates the Toll-like receptors, upregulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines .…”