Anticancer potential of Bellardia trixago quantum dots: Cytotoxic effects on various cancer cell lines

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and anticancer effects of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) derived from Bellardia trixago. The CQDs were analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). TEM results revealed that the CQDs have a spherical morphology and exhibit a layered structure. XRD analysis showed a graphite-like crystalline structure, while FTIR and XPS studies confirmed the presence of OH, CC, and CO functional groups on the surface. The biological activity of CQDs demonstrated selective cytotoxicity, inducing significant cell death in cancer cells while exhibiting low toxicity in healthy cells. More pronounced morphological changes were observed in HEp-2 and SaOS-2 cells, while HEK-293 cells showed negligible changes. These findings suggest that quantum dots could serve as a potential alternative for cancer treatment.