Assessment of Antioxidant Potential of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials from Different Sources

Antioxidants regulate oxidative reactions by impeding, delaying, or inhibiting the oxidation of biomolecules. Concerns regarding the toxicity of synthetic antioxidants have driven the search for safer alternatives. In this study, the antioxidant activities of three nontoxic carbon-based nanomaterials-carbon dots from citric acid precursor (CB-Ca), iron-doped carbon dots (CB-Fe) and carbon dots derived from Momordica charantia leaves (CB-Mc)-were investigated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging, ferric-reducing antioxidant power, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays. Scavenging activity was carried out at varying concentrations, and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was calculated using non-linear regression. Reductive ability and TAC were expressed as mg ascorbic acid equivalents/g nanomaterial. CB-Fe exhibited the most potent DPPH scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 254.2 ± 37.37 µg/mL), surpassing CB-Mc and CB-Ca by 2- to 3-fold. In contrast, CB-Ca had the highest H₂O₂ scavenging (IC₅₀ = 84.2 ± 11.87 µg/mL), while CB-Mc had the highest TAC of 77.95 mg ascorbic acid Eq/g. CB-Fe also displayed superior ferric ion reducing capacity. The study concluded that each carbon dot type exhibits unique antioxidant profiles and may offer some special advantages in nanomedicine and other applications.