Graphene Quantum Dots in Cancer Diagnostics and Therapeutics: Advances in Biosensing, Imaging, and Treatment...

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged as promising nanomaterials in cancer therapy because of their unique physicochemical properties. This review comprehensively analyzes the roles of GQDs in cancer diagnostics and treatment, highlighting their biocompatibility, tunable photoluminescence, and surface functionalization capabilities. GQDs exhibit minimal toxicity, efficient cellular uptake, and favorable biodistribution, making them suitable for targeted drug delivery, photothermal therapy (PTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Their intrinsic fluorescence also enables real-time bioimaging, supporting theranostic applications. This study explores their mechanisms of action, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, heat-induced ablation, and pH-responsive drug release. GQDs have demonstrated efficacy across various cancers, such as breast, lung, brain, liver, and pancreatic cancers, through enhanced drug/gene delivery, biosensing, and image-guided therapy. Despite encouraging preclinical results, challenges related to toxicity profiling, standardization, regulatory frameworks, and scalability remain significant barriers to clinical translation. This review emphasizes the therapeutic versatility of GQDs and underscores the need for further research to overcome translational hurdles and realize their full potential in personalized cancer care.