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Surface Modification, Toxicity, and Applications of Carbon Dots to Cancer Theranosis: A Review
Tirusew Tegafaw1, Endale Mulugeta1, Dejun Zhao1
1Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Taegu 41566, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, prompting extensive research into novel theranostic (combined word of diagnostic and therapeutic) strategies. Nanomedicine has emerged as a potential breakthrough in cancer theranosis, overcoming limitations of conventional approaches. Among such approaches, carbon dots (CDs) with a size smaller than 10 nm have garnered significant attention for their potential use in cancer theranosis, owing to their low toxicity, good water solubility, easy synthesis, facile surface modification, and unique optical and photothermal and photodynamic properties. Researchers have demonstrated that surface functionalization of CDs with diverse hydrophilic groups can be easily achieved by choosing proper carbon precursors in synthesis, and further surface modification of CDs with cancer-targeting ligands, photosensitizers, anticancer drugs, and genes can also be easily achieved using various methods, thereby establishing a versatile approach for cancer theranosis. This review described the various surface modification methods of CDs, in vitro and in vivo toxicity of CDs, and various cancer theranostic methods such as drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, gene therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and gas therapy. Therefore, CDs can serve as various mono and combined theranostic modalities, offering us new methods for cancer theranosis.
Insights
Carbon dots (CDs) are tiny nanoparticles showing promise for cancer theranosis. Their versatile surface modification allows for targeted drug delivery, photothermal, and photodynamic therapies, offering new cancer treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Nanomedicine
- Biotechnology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Cancer is a leading global cause of death, driving research into advanced theranostic strategies.
- Conventional cancer treatments face limitations, necessitating innovative approaches.
- Nanomedicine offers a promising avenue for integrated cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of carbon dots (CDs) in cancer theranosis.
- To explore the synthesis, surface modification, and properties of CDs for theranostic applications.
- To discuss various cancer theranostic modalities utilizing CDs.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on carbon dots (CDs) synthesis and functionalization.
- Analysis of surface modification techniques for CDs.
- Examination of in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies of CDs.
- Compilation of diverse cancer theranostic applications of CDs.
Main Results:
- Carbon dots (CDs) exhibit low toxicity, good water solubility, and facile synthesis.
- Surface functionalization of CDs enables integration with targeting ligands, drugs, and therapeutic agents.
- CDs demonstrate potential in drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, gene therapy, sonodynamic therapy, and gas therapy.
- CDs can be employed as single or combined theranostic agents.
Conclusions:
- Carbon dots (CDs) represent a versatile platform for advanced cancer theranosis.
- Surface modification is key to tailoring CDs for specific diagnostic and therapeutic functions.
- CDs offer a promising nanomedicine approach to overcome limitations in current cancer treatment.
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