Carbon Quantum Dot-Encapsulated Metal-Organic Framework Hybrids as Multifunctional Fluorescent Sensors for Oral...

Accurate detection of oral disease biomarkers is crucial for improving treatment, yet conventional diagnostic approaches often suffer from low sensitivity, specificity, and limited point-of-care applicability. In this review, carbon quantum dot-encapsulated metal-organic framework (CQD@MOF) hybrids as fluorescent biosensors for oral disease biomarker detection are analyzed, focusing on their synthesis strategies, structural advantages, fluorescence sensing mechanisms, and clinical potential. These hybrids combine the fluorescence and biocompatibility of CQDs with the high surface area and tunable porosity of MOFs, enabling enhanced biomarker recognition and signal transduction. Encapsulation protects CQDs from photobleaching and aggregation, improving fluorescence stability, sensor longevity, and robustness in complex oral environments. CQD@MOF sensors exhibit excellent sensitivity and selectivity for diverse biomarkers, including proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules, enabling noninvasive, real-time detection. Characterization techniques (TEM, SEM, XRD, FT-IR, TGA, and BET) confirm uniform CQD distribution within MOF matrices, supporting efficient fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Reported detection limits reach the nano- to picomolar range for clinically relevant biomarkers, meeting early diagnosis requirements. The design strategies for multiplexed detection, challenges in clinical translation, and future directions for integrating CQD@MOF platforms into portable, cost-effective diagnostic devices are discussed. This review underscores CQD@MOF hybrids as an advancement in oral diagnostics and personalized medicine.