The effects of rose pigments extracted by different methods on the optical properties of carbon quantum dots and its efficacy in the determination of Diazinon

Alginate-derived carbon dots for "turn off-on" anti-neoplastic 5-fluorouracil sensing in biological samples

As a chemotherapy drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used for colon cancer for decades. Excessive levels of 5-FU in the human body can lead to notable adverse effects, including severe diarrhea, infection, mouth sores, skin peeling, skin inflammation, and ulcers, which are important and relatively common digestive side effects. In addition, 5-FU is an analog of uracil and also has similarities to pyrimidines. Therefore, it is not easy to separate them. This research presented a sensor capable of detecting drugs in minimal amounts. An alginate-derived carbon dot (CD) was synthesized by unique optical properties that obey an on-off fluorescence mechanism for 5-FU sensing. Introducing copper (Cu(I)) to CDs results in fluorescence quenching through electron transfer. However, when 5-FU is added to the system as an oxidizing agent, a redox reaction occurs on the surface of the CDs, which leads to the restoration of fluorescence as Cu(I) is altered to Cu(II). Experimental results showed a strong linear correlation (R2 = 0.99) in the concentration range of 1.00-45.00 nM, with the following linear regression, and revealed the relative standard deviation (RSD%) and detection limit of 2.57%, and 1.00 nM, respectively. These results validated the excellent detection capability of the proposed method even at low concentrations of 5-FU and in the presence of other drugs and interfering substances. Also, the recovery of 5-FU (varies from 100.46% to 113.7%, with RSD equal to 1.89-3.63) in serum samples indicates the absence of matrix interference in the determination of 5-FU. In summary, this novel approach to developing a cost-effective and sensitive sensor holds great potential for future applications in healthcare and related fields.

Simultaneous sensing of carbidopa and levodopa by a novel strategy based on dual-emission ratiometric assay of modified carbon dots

Rapid control of the content of Parkinson's drugs in biological fluids and pharmaceutical formulations is of great importance because changes in the concentration of these drugs affect their bioavailability and biopharmaceutical properties. Therefore, we presented a simple and convenient method for the ratiometric detection of carbidopa and levodopa for carbon dots (CDs) dual-fluorescent emission. Dual-emission CDs were prepared from chitosan using a microwave method, following which the surface was chemically modified with terephthalaldehyde. CDs had two strong well-separated peaks at 445 and 510 nm. The relative measurement of carbidopa and levodopa was based on the static extinction of CDs at 445 nm and increase at 510 nm, respectively. The linear range for carbidopa measurement was 2.5-300 nM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.1 nM, and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 1.68%. Further, the linear range for levodopa measurement was equal to 3.0-400 nM, with LOD and RSD% of 2.8 nM and 3.5%, respectively. Also, selectivity of ratiometric sensor in the presence of interferences was investigated, which showed that the recovery of carbidopa and levodopa in serum and urine samples has changed between 96.80% and 116.24% with RSD% 0.11-0.77. CDs also provided good results for the determination of carbidopa and levodopa in real samples, and had high selectivity in the presence of possible interferences.

A recent update on development, synthesis methods, properties and application of natural products derived carbon dots

Natural resources are practically infinitely abundant in nature, which stimulates scientists to create new materials with inventive uses and minimal environmental impact. Due to the various benefits of natural carbon dots (NCDs) from them has received a lot of attention recently. Natural products-derived carbon dots have recently emerged as a highly promising class of nanomaterials, showcasing exceptional properties and eco-friendly nature, which make them appealing for diverse applications in various fields such as biomedical, environmental sensing and monitoring, energy storage and conversion, optoelectronics and photonics, agriculture, quantum computing, nanomedicine and cancer therapy. Characterization techniques such as Photoinduced electron transfer, Aggregation-Induced-Emission (AIE), Absorbance, Fluorescence in UV-Vis and NIR Regions play crucial roles in understanding the structural and optical properties of Carbon dots (CDs). The exceptional photoluminescence properties exhibited by CDs derived from natural products have paved the way for applications in tissue engineering, cancer treatment, bioimaging, sensing, drug delivery, photocatalysis, and promising remarkable advancements in these fields. In this review, we summarized the various synthesis methods, physical and optical properties, applications, challenges, future prospects of natural products-derived carbon dots etc. In this expanding sector, the difficulties and prospects for NCD-based materials research will also be explored.

Rapid and sensitive determination of Piroxicam by N-doped carbon dots prepared by plant soot

Piroxicam (PX) as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) can be effectively used for anti-inflammatory and analgesia. However, overdoses may induce side effects such as gastrointestinal ulcers and headaches. Therefore, the assay of piroxicam has considerable significance. In this work, nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) was synthesized for PX detection. The fluorescence sensor was fabricated by hydrothermal method with plant soot and ethylenediamine. The strategy exhibited a detection range of 6-200 μg/mL and 250-700 μg/mL with the limited detection of 2 μg/mL. The mechanism of the PX assay base on the fluorescence sensor was the process of electron transfer between the PX and N-CDs. The assay subsequently demonstrated could be successfully used in actual sample. The results indicated that the N-CDs could be a superior candidate nanomaterial for piroxicam monitoring in the healthcare product industry.

Green-derived carbon dots: A potent tool for biosensing in food safety

The impact of food contaminants on ecosystems and human health has attracted widespread global attention, and there is an urgent need to develop reliable food safety detection methods. Recently, carbon dots (CDs) have been considered as a powerful material to construct sensors for chemical analysis. Based on the concept of resource conversion and sustainable development, the use of natural, harmless, and renewable materials for the preparation of CDs without the involvement of chemical hazards is a current hot topic. This paper reviews the research progress of green-derived CDs and their application in food safety biosensing. The fabrications of green-derived CDs using various biomasses are described in detail, and the application of CDs especially the sensing mechanisms of photoluminescence, colorimetric, electrochemiluminescence and other sensors are provided. Finally, existing shortcomings and current challenges as well as prospects for food safety monitoring are discussed. We believe that this work provides strong insight into the application of CDs in the sensing of various contaminants.

Selective detection of nitenpyram by silica-supported carbon quantum dots

In this study, a fluorescent sensor of nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) and silica gel hybrid was developed for the quantitative detection of nitenpyram, a toxic neonicotinoid existing in groundwater and/or surface water.The prepared N-CQDs@SiO₂ sensor exhibited remarkable sensing selectivity and sensitivity towards nitenpyram among the four pesticides and six metal ions. A prominent fluorescence quenching of N-CQDs@SiO₂ at 445 nm was observed in the presence of nitenpyram with a linear response range of 0-300.0 mg L^-1 and an estimated limit of detection of 1.53 mg L^-1. The main cause for selective sensing is that nitenpyram absorbs the excitation light of N-CQDs@SiO₂, leading to fluorescence quenching of the sensor through the inner filter effect.

Carbon-Based Fluorescent Nano-Biosensors for the Detection of Cell-Free Circulating MicroRNAs

Currently, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as potential risks for humans due to adopting a sedentary lifestyle and inaccurate diagnoses. The early detection of NCDs using point-of-care technologies significantly decreases the burden and will be poised to transform clinical intervention and healthcare provision. An imbalance in the levels of circulating cell-free microRNAs (ccf-miRNA) has manifested in NCDs, which are passively released into the bloodstream or actively produced from cells, improving the efficacy of disease screening and providing enormous sensing potential. The effective sensing of ccf-miRNA continues to be a significant technical challenge, even though sophisticated equipment is needed to analyze readouts and expression patterns. Nanomaterials have come to light as a potential solution as they provide significant advantages over other widely used diagnostic techniques to measure miRNAs. Particularly, CNDs-based fluorescence nano-biosensors are of great interest. Owing to the excellent fluorescence characteristics of CNDs, developing such sensors for ccf-microRNAs has been much more accessible. Here, we have critically examined recent advancements in fluorescence-based CNDs biosensors, including tools and techniques used for manufacturing these biosensors. Green synthesis methods for scaling up high-quality, fluorescent CNDs from a natural source are discussed. The various surface modifications that help attach biomolecules to CNDs utilizing covalent conjugation techniques for multiple applications, including self-assembly, sensing, and imaging, are analyzed. The current review will be of particular interest to researchers interested in fluorescence-based biosensors, materials chemistry, nanomedicine, and related fields, as we focus on CNDs-based nano-biosensors for ccf-miRNAs detection applications in the medical field.

Green Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Characterization, Properties and Biomedical Applications

Carbon dots (CDs) are a new category of crystalline, quasi-spherical fluorescence, "zero-dimensional" carbon nanomaterials with a spatial size between 1 nm to 10 nm and have gained widespread attention in recent years. Green CDs are carbon dots synthesised from renewable biomass such as agro-waste, plants or medicinal plants and other organic biomaterials. Plant-mediated synthesis of CDs is a green chemistry approach that connects nanotechnology with the green synthesis of CDs. Notably, CDs made with green technology are economical and far superior to those manufactured with physicochemical methods due to their exclusive benefits, such as being affordable, having high stability, having a simple protocol, and being safer and eco-benign. Green CDs can be synthesized by using ultrasonic strategy, chemical oxidation, carbonization, solvothermal and hydrothermal processes, and microwave irradiation using various plant-based organic resources. CDs made by green technology have diverse applications in biomedical fields such as bioimaging, biosensing and nanomedicine, which are ascribed to their unique properties, including excellent luminescence effect, strong stability and good biocompatibility. This review mainly focuses on green CDs synthesis, characterization techniques, beneficial properties of plant resource-based green CDs and their biomedical applications. This review article also looks at the research gaps and future research directions for the continuous deepening of the exploration of green CDs.

Design and modeling of diazinon degradation in hydrous matrix by Ni-doped ZnO nanorods under ultrasonic irradiation: process optimization using RSM (CCD), kinetic study, reaction pathway, mineralization, and toxicity assessment

In first, the Ni-doped ZnO nanorods used as an appeal sonocatalyst was synthesized through co-precipitation method. Afterwards, the crystalline structure, functional groups, surface morphology, and elemental composition were characterized by a set of analysis. Removal of diazinon ((DZ) as a renowned pesticide) was investigated using sonocatalytic performance of US/Ni-doped ZnO system. In this empirical study, response surface methodology (RSM) based central composite design (CCD) was applied for optimization of operational factors. Under the optimum conditions such as initial pH = 5, initial DZ concentration = 15 mg L^-1, sonocatalyst dosage = 1 g L^-1, and in the presence of organic compounds (oxalic acid, humic acid, and folic acid) = 3 mg L^-1, the sonocatalytic degradation of DZ after 15 min was 82.29%. The F-value (6.64) and P-value (< 0.0001) for DZ degradation in the quadratic model imply the proposed model was significant. A-factor (pH) considers as a prominent factor owing to having the highest F-value. In addition, the sonocatalytic data in this study exhibited valid fitting for the first order kinetic model (R² > 0.98). After six consecutive cycles, the Ni-doped ZnO nanorods could be recyclable for sonocatalytic degradation of DZ. The five main compounds produced during the US/Ni-doped ZnO embracing 2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-pyrimidinol (IMP), diethyl phosphonate, diazoxon, hydroxyldiazinon, and diazinon methyl ketone are formed in the path of DZ degradation. OFAT style also revealed 99.99% of DZ degradation with 73.26% of mineralization rate in optimum status. The Ni-doped ZnO presented agreeable sonocatalytic facility in the refinement of real water and wastewater matrix. Finally, the results of toxicity evaluation (Daphnia magna) in the sonocatalytic degradation of DZ (by US/Ni-doped ZnO system) showed that the toxicity of the DZ solution lessened under US waves (LC₅₀ and TU 48 h equal to 36.472 and 2.741 volume percent, respectively).

Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015-2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications

Carbon dots (CDs) show extensive potential in various fields such as sensing, bioimaging, catalysis, medicine, optoelectronics, and drug delivery due to their unique properties, that is, low cytotoxicity, cytocompatibility, water-solubility, multicolor wavelength tuned emission, photo-stability, easy modification, strong chemical inertness, etc. This review article especially focuses on the recent advancement (2015-2022) in the green synthesis of CDs, their application in metal ions sensing and microbial bioimaging, detection, and viability studies as well as their applications in pathogenic control and plant growth promotion.

A Review on Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Characterization and Its Application in Optical Sensor for Environmental Monitoring

The development of carbon dots (CDs), either using green or chemical precursors, has inevitably led to their wide range application, from bioimaging to optoelectronic devices. The reported precursors and properties of these CDs have opened new opportunities for the future development of high-quality CDs and applications. Green precursors were classified into fruits, vegetables, flowers, leaves, seeds, stem, crop residues, fungi/bacteria species, and waste products, while the chemical precursors were classified into acid reagents and non-acid reagents. This paper quickly reviews ten years of the synthesis of CDs using green and chemical precursors. The application of CDs as sensing materials in optical sensor techniques for environmental monitoring, including the detection of heavy metal ions, phenol, pesticides, and nitroaromatic explosives, was also discussed in this review. This profound review will offer knowledge for the upcoming community of researchers interested in synthesizing high-quality CDs for various applications.

Recent advances in synthesis and modification of carbon dots for optical sensing of pesticides

Serious threat from pesticide residues to the ecosystem and human health has become a global concern. Developing reliable methods for monitoring pesticides is a world-wide research hotspot. Carbon dots (CDs) with excellent photostability, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility have been regarded as the potential substitutes in fabricating various optical sensors for pesticide detection. Based on the relevant high-quality publications, this paper first summarizes the current state-of-the-art of the synthetic and modification approaches of CDs. Then, a comprehensive overview is given on the recent advances of CDs-based optical sensors for pesticides over the past five years, with a particular focus on photoluminescent, electrochemiluminescent and colorimetric sensors regarding the sensing mechanisms and design principles by integrating with various recognition elements including antibodies, aptamers, enzymes, molecularly imprinted polymers, and some nanoparticles. Novel functions and extended applications of CDs as signal indicators, catalyst, co-reactants, and electrode surface modifiers, in constructing optical sensors are specially highlighted. Beyond an assessment of the performances of the real-world application of these proposed optical sensors, the existing inadequacies and current challenges, as well as future perspectives for pesticide monitoring are discussed in detail. It is hoped to provide powerful insights for the development of novel CDs-based sensing strategies with their wide application in different fields for pesticide supervision.

Development of Ag nanoparticle-carbon quantum dot nanocomplex as fluorescence sensor for determination of gemcitabine

Gemcitabine hydrochloride is an established chemotherapeutic agent in several solid tumors. In spite of outstanding therapeutic efficacy, there are some serious fetal side effects with gemcitabine in higher concentrations which necessitate developing a sensitive sensor for its quantification. Herein, a fluorescent metal-nanoparticles conjugated carbon quantum dot (MN-CQD) was prepared by a mixture of citric acid/ammonia sulfate and different metals using hydrothermal method. Based on the primary experiments, the efficiency of Ag nanoparticle-CQDs for gemcitabine determination was found to be much better than others. The AgNp-CQDs fluorescence was quenched by gemcitabine anticancer drug via photo-induced charge transfer which renders the system into fluorescence "OFF" status. Under the experimental conditions, the linear range of detection was 0.003-0.1 μM in an aqueous solution with a correlation coefficient of 0.96 and a limit of detection equal to 0.002 µM. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for gemcitabine determination was 3.4% (n = 3). Finally, after optimizing the conditions, the concentration of analyte was determined in real samples including human plasma and urine. These results confirm that the as prepared fluorescence based nanosensor can be used for sensitive quantification of gemcitabine in real samples.

Nano-Enable Materials Promoting Sustainability and Resilience in Modern Agriculture

Intensive conventional agriculture and climate change have induced severe ecological damages and threatened global food security, claiming a reorientation of agricultural management and public policies towards a more sustainable development model. In this context, nanomaterials promise to support this transition by promoting mitigation, enhancing productivity, and reducing contamination. This review gathers recent research innovations on smart nanoformulations and delivery systems improving crop protection and plant nutrition, nanoremediation strategies for contaminated soils, nanosensors for plant health and food quality and safety monitoring, and nanomaterials as smart food-packaging. It also highlights the impact of engineered nanomaterials on soil microbial communities, and potential environmental risks, along with future research directions. Although large-scale production and in-field testing of nano-agrochemicals are still ongoing, the collected information indicates improvements in uptake, use efficiency, targeted delivery of the active ingredients, and reduction of leaching and pollution. Nanoremediation seems to have a low negative impact on microbial communities while promoting biodiversity. Nanosensors enable high-resolution crop monitoring and sustainable management of the resources, while nano-packaging confers catalytic, antimicrobial, and barrier properties, preserving food safety and preventing food waste. Though, the application of nanomaterials to the agri-food sector requires a specific risk assessment supporting proper regulations and public acceptance.

You Don't Learn That in School: An Updated Practical Guide to Carbon Quantum Dots

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have started to emerge as candidates for application in cell imaging, biosensing, and targeted drug delivery, amongst other research fields, due to their unique properties. Those applications are possible as the CQDs exhibit tunable fluorescence, biocompatibility, and a versatile surface. This review aims to summarize the recent development in the field of CQDs research, namely the latest synthesis progress concerning materials/methods, surface modifications, characterization methods, and purification techniques. Furthermore, this work will systematically explore the several applications CQDs have been subjected to, such as bioimaging, fluorescence sensing, and cancer/gene therapy. Finally, we will briefly discuss in the concluding section the present and future challenges, as well as future perspectives and views regarding the emerging paradigm that is the CQDs research field.

Facile synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots from pork liver and its sensing of 6-thioguanine based on the inner filter effect

Nitrogen-doped carbon dots were facilely synthesized from pork liver and the fluorescence quenching determination of 6-thioguanine in human serum based on the inner filter effect was achieved with the limit of detection as low as 0.75 μM.