Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications

Aisha Kanwal, Naheed Bibi, Sajjad Hyder, Arif Muhammad, Hao Ren, Jiangtao Liu and Zhongli Lei
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.93

Cite the Following Article

Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications
Aisha Kanwal, Naheed Bibi, Sajjad Hyder, Arif Muhammad, Hao Ren, Jiangtao Liu and Zhongli Lei
Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.13.93

How to Cite

Kanwal, A.; Bibi, N.; Hyder, S.; Muhammad, A.; Ren, H.; Liu, J.; Lei, Z. Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2022, 13, 1068–1107. doi:10.3762/bjnano.13.93

Download Citation

Citation data can be downloaded as file using the "Download" button or used for copy/paste from the text window below.
Citation data in RIS format can be imported by all major citation management software, including EndNote, ProCite, RefWorks, and Zotero.

Presentation Graphic

Picture with graphical abstract, title and authors for social media postings and presentations.
Format: PNG Size: 12.0 MB Download

Citations to This Article

Up to 20 of the most recent references are displayed here.

Scholarly Works

  • Huang, W.; Zhao, X.; Zhang, Y.; Cheng, Q.; Tan, Z.; Lei, H. Carbon dots in agriculture: fundamentals, applications and perspectives. RSC Sustainability 2026, 4, 118–141. doi:10.1039/d5su00583c
  • Okkod, A.; Yang, X. Dual-Emissive Carbon Dots for Detection of Chloramphenicol in Tap Water. Organic Electronics 2026, 107383. doi:10.1016/j.orgel.2026.107383
  • Leal, G. G.; dos Santos, Y. B. L.; Silva Ito, M. E. Q.; de Souza, W. R. Big things come in small packages: Using nanomaterials for plant genetic engineering. Plant Nano Biology 2025, 14, 100219. doi:10.1016/j.plana.2025.100219
  • Kung, M.-L.; Chu, T.-H.; Hsieh, S.; Li, C.-C.; Li, W.-M.; Yeh, B.-W.; Wu, W.-J. Phenolic zingerone nanoparticles impede cell cycle progression to compete against human urothelial carcinoma. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie 2025, 192, 118675. doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118675
  • Wechakorn, K.; Khaopueak, P.; Seesuea, C.; Leung, F. K.-C.; Tantipanjaporn, A. Facile green synthesis of multifunctional carbon dots from cassava peel for heavy metal ion sensing, photocatalytic degradation, antioxidant activity, and fluorescence bioimaging. Materials Science and Engineering: B 2025, 320, 118435. doi:10.1016/j.mseb.2025.118435
  • Roy, A.; Narayanan, D. P. Carbon dots derived from edible fern (Stenochlaena palustris (Burm. fil.) Bedd.) for heavy metal sensing and biomedical applications. Results in Surfaces and Interfaces 2025, 21, 100660. doi:10.1016/j.rsurfi.2025.100660
  • Ssebagala, I.; Rwahwire, S. Synthesis of green carbon dots from selected agricultural waste (peels/coatings) for removal of methylene blue from textile wastewater. Next Materials 2025, 9, 101191. doi:10.1016/j.nxmate.2025.101191
  • Sezer, E.; Ulucan Karnak, F.; Akgöl, S. Green carbon dots in the era of AI: sustainable synthesis, intelligent drug delivery, advanced diagnostics, and bioimaging. Turkish journal of biology = Turk biyoloji dergisi 2025, 49, 498–533. doi:10.55730/1300-0152.2762
  • Vadakkan, K.; Ghodake, G. S.; Gunasekaran, S.; Lai, C. W.; Rumjit, N. P. Carbon dots as nano-pioneers: A critical review on advances in fabrication and antibacterial mechanism. Inorganic Chemistry Communications 2025, 179, 114883. doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2025.114883
  • Lan, Y.; Zhou, X.; Zheng, R.; Li, J.; Wang, M.; Wang, D.; Li, S.; Xiao, Y.; Hu, J.; Yang, M.; Li, L.; Wang, M.; Wu, J.; Gao, D. Solvent assisted regulation of the properties of Sanguisorba officinalis L. derived carbon dots: Application in antioxidant, fluorescence imaging and fluorescence detection. Materials Research Bulletin 2025, 194, 113730. doi:10.1016/j.materresbull.2025.113730
  • Sandhu, Z. A.; Raza, M. A.; Farwa, U.; Fareed, M. S.; Alqurashi, A.; Latif, M. Role of carbon dots as nanocarriers in drug delivery: current advancements, prospects, and implementations. Expert opinion on drug delivery 2025, 22, 1171–1192. doi:10.1080/17425247.2025.2513439
  • Anugraha, S.; Sabira, O.; Ajaykumar, A.; Reshmi, C.; Leeja, L.; Nataraj, D.; Ramesh, A. Biocompatible carbon dots from fermented and non-fermented coconut water: Evaluation of antioxidant, antimitotic, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities. Bioresource Technology Reports 2025, 30, 102176. doi:10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102176
  • Fathi-karkan, S.; Nasiri, S.; Hasannia, M.; Rahdar, A.; Nouri, M.; Najafi, M.; Basiri, A.; Tehrani, F. S.; Hashemi, S. M.; Romanholo Ferreira, L. F. Green carbon dots and theranostic applications. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology 2025, 108, 106861. doi:10.1016/j.jddst.2025.106861
  • Sen, N. 53Chapter 4 Polymerization techniques of carbon-based molecularly imprinted polymers. Carbon-Based Molecularly Imprinted Polymers; De Gruyter, 2025; pp 53–78. doi:10.1515/9783111503325-004
  • Wang, Y.; Wu, H.; Guo, Y.; Li, F.; Zhang, H. Carbon Dot-Based Nanoparticles: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Glioblastoma. International journal of nanomedicine 2025, 20, 7061–7092. doi:10.2147/ijn.s519733
  • Wang, Y.; Wang, Q.; Liu, W.; Xin, X.; Zhao, B. A Review on the Synthesis of Carbon Dots and Their Applications in Environmental Analysis. Crystals 2025, 15, 384. doi:10.3390/cryst15050384
  • Khandagale, P.; Chougale, P.; Mujawar, N.; Momin, M.; Dhabbe, R.; Kakade, R.; Nipane, S.; Sabale, S.; Kim, D.-K. Honeycomb waste-derived carbon dots as a sensitive sensing probe for detection of capecitabine chemo drug. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy 2025, 339, 126241. doi:10.1016/j.saa.2025.126241
  • Etefa, H. F.; Dejene, F. B. Applications of Green Carbon Dots in Personalized Diagnostics for Precision Medicine. International journal of molecular sciences 2025, 26, 2846. doi:10.3390/ijms26072846
  • Chobpattana, V.; Sangtawesin, T.; Khaopueak, P.; Wechakorn, K. Sugar derived-fluorescent carbon quantum dots conjugated glutathione for sensing heavy metal ions and antioxidant activity. Materials Science and Engineering: B 2025, 313, 117956. doi:10.1016/j.mseb.2024.117956
  • Xiao, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Chen, Q.; Long, X.; Li, Y.; Ma, M.; Ming, Q.; Mai, Y.; Shi, Q.; Yang, X.; Zhang, X. Chemiluminescence of potassium permanganate and carbon dots and its analytical applications. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 2025, 139, 107156. doi:10.1016/j.jfca.2024.107156
Other Beilstein-Institut Open Science Activities