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Carbon Dots: An Innovative Tool for Drug Delivery in Brain Tumors
Giovanna Calabrese1, Giovanna De Luca1, Giuseppe Nocito1
1Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Biologiche, Farmaceutiche ed Ambientali-Università degli Studi di Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, 31, 98168 Messina, Italy.
Abstract:
Brain tumors are particularly aggressive and represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in adults and children, affecting the global population and being responsible for 2.6% of all cancer deaths (as well as 30% of those in children and 20% in young adults). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) excludes almost 100% of the drugs targeting brain neoplasms, representing one of the most significant challenges to current brain cancer therapy. In the last decades, carbon dots have increasingly played the role of drug delivery systems with theranostic applications against cancer, thanks to their bright photoluminescence, solubility in bodily fluids, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. After a summary outlining brain tumors and the current drug delivery strategies devised in their therapeutic management, this review explores the most recent literature about the advances and open challenges in the employment of carbon dots as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents in the treatment of brain cancers, together with the strategies devised to allow them to cross the BBB effectively.
Insights
Carbon dots show promise for treating brain tumors by overcoming the blood-brain barrier. This review explores their diagnostic and therapeutic potential in brain cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Brain tumors are aggressive, leading to significant mortality globally.
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) severely limits drug delivery for brain neoplasms.
- Carbon dots offer potential as drug delivery systems due to their properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advances in using carbon dots for brain tumor diagnosis and therapy.
- To explore strategies for enhancing carbon dot penetration of the BBB.
- To identify challenges in applying carbon dots to brain cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on carbon dots in brain cancer therapy.
- Analysis of carbon dot properties relevant to drug delivery and theranostics.
- Examination of methods to overcome the blood-brain barrier for carbon dots.
Main Results:
- Carbon dots exhibit photoluminescence, solubility, stability, and biocompatibility.
- Carbon dots are being developed for both diagnostic imaging and therapeutic delivery.
- Strategies are being investigated to enable carbon dots to cross the BBB.
Conclusions:
- Carbon dots represent a promising platform for brain cancer theranostics.
- Overcoming the BBB remains a key challenge for effective carbon dot application.
- Further research is needed to optimize carbon dots for brain tumor treatment.
