Fluorescence sensing and imaging with carbon-based quantum dots for early diagnosis of cancer: A review

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis Vol. 212; p. 114628
• Main Authors: Mohammadi, Rashin, Naderi-Manesh, Hossein, Farzin, Leila, Vaezi, Zahra, Ayarri, Niloofar, Samandari, Leila, Shamsipur, Mojtaba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier B.V 01.04.2022
• Subjects: Biosensing Techniques - methods; Cancer diagnosis; Carbon; Carbon-based quantum dots; Early Detection of Cancer; Fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Imaging; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Quantum Dots; Reproducibility of Results; Sensing strategies; Fluorescence; Sensing strategies; Cancer diagnosis; Imaging; Carbon-based quantum dots
• ISSN: 0731-7085; 1873-264X; 1873-264X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114628

This review discusses recent advances and the reported strategies over the last ten years on the use of carbon-based quantum dots (QDs), including carbon dots (CDs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), and polymer dots (PDs) in the design of fluorescence imaging and biosensing system for early diagnosis of cancers. Besides, this study comprehensively reports the latest developments in these years in the fluorescence imaging (FI) area with special attention to carbon-based QDs that take advantage of the excellent properties offered by these zero-dimensional (0D) nanomaterials as fluorescent tags. The most remarkable advantages of these carbon nanomaterials in the development of fluorescence sensing and imaging strategies compared to the conventional dyes arise from sharp emission spectra, long photostability, low-cost synthesis, reliability, reproducibility, high fluorescent intensity, and high surface functional groups such as carboxyl and amide, which impart better solubility in many solvents and aqueous media and facilitate their easy functionalization with biological species. The final section discusses the main challenges to be met to take full advantage of these properties in fluorescence bio-sensing and imaging as well as the possible future trends in this field based on the great advances that have occurred in recent years. [Display omitted] •A review on fluorescence imaging and bio-sensing systems for early diagnosis of cancers.•Recent strategies reported for the use of carbon-based quantum dots.•Design and applications of carbon dots (CDs).•Design and applications of graphene quantum dots (GQDs).•Design an applications of polymer dots (PDs).