Theranostic applications of stimulus-responsive systems based on carbon dots

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs) are advancing rapidly.
• Stimulus-responsive NDDSs are a key area of development.
• Carbon dots (CDs) offer unique properties like optical activity, biocompatibility, and tunable surface chemistry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in Carbon dots (CDs) for Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs).
• To highlight the potential of CDs in stimulus-responsive drug delivery.
• To focus on the theranostic capabilities of CDs utilizing internal tumor-specific stimuli.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on Carbon dots (CDs) in drug delivery.
• Analysis of surface modification strategies for stimulus-responsiveness.
• Examination of internal stimuli (pH, redox, enzymes) for targeted activation.

Main Results:

• Carbon dots (CDs) can be engineered for targeted drug delivery.
• Surface modification enables response to internal tumor microenvironment stimuli.
• CDs facilitate simultaneous imaging and therapeutic delivery (theranostics).

Conclusions:

• Carbon dots (CDs) represent a promising platform for advanced Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (NDDSs).
• Stimulus-responsive CDs offer precise targeting and theranostic potential.
• Exploiting tumor-specific internal stimuli enhances therapeutic efficacy and reduces side effects.