Carbon dots in health protection: mechanisms and applications

Sub-health status (SHS) is a condition that lies between optimal health and disease, affecting approximately 75 % of the global population. Prolonged exposure to SHS can lead to cellular dysfunction, which if severe can further progress to inflammation and even cancer. Over the past decade, carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as promising agents for cellular protection and disease prevention. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of CDs in various health-protective roles, such as antioxidation, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging interventions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of CDs synthesis and explores the mechanisms through which CDs exert their health benefits. Moreover, the review summarizes potential applications of CDs in fields such as food science, medicine, and biology. Finally, it described the challenges and outlook of CDs in health protection was presented. This review aims to spark the interest of researchers in the potential of carbon dots for health protection.