Open AccessCarbon “quantum” dots for bioapplications
Author(s) -
Dan Yuan,
Ping Wang,
Liju Yang,
Jesse L Quimby,
YaPing Sun
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
experimental biology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1535-3702
pISSN - 1535-3699
DOI - 10.1177/15353702211057513
Subject(s) - nanotechnology , quantum dot , nanomaterials , carbon fibers , surface modification , fullerene , carbon quantum dots , passivation , nanoparticle , materials science , fluorescence , semiconductor , chemistry , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , organic chemistry , physics , quantum mechanics , composite number , composite material
Carbon "quantum" dots or carbon dots (CDots) exploit and enhance the intrinsic photoexcited state properties and processes of small carbon nanoparticles via effective nanoparticle surface passivation by chemical functionalization with organic species. The optical properties and photoinduced redox characteristics of CDots are competitive to those of established conventional semiconductor quantum dots and also fullerenes and other carbon nanomaterials. Highlighted here are major advances in the exploration of CDots for their serving as high-performance yet nontoxic fluorescence probes for one- and multi-photon bioimaging in vitro and in vivo , and for their uniquely potent antimicrobial function to inactivate effectively and efficiently some of the toughest bacterial pathogens and viruses under visible/natural or ambient light conditions. Opportunities and challenges in the further development of the CDots platform and related technologies are discussed.