Recent advances and prospects of carbon dots in cancer nanotheranostics

As a new member of the carbonaceous nanomaterial family, carbon dots (CDs) have been recognized as promising candidates in nanotheranostics for simultaneous bioimaging and cancer treatment because of their unique optical properties and intrinsic theranostic properties. In this short review, we aim at summarizing the recent advances and future prospects of CDs as nanotheranostic agents for anticancer applications. Initially, we discuss CDs for fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging and magnetic resonance imaging. Subsequently, we highlight CDs for photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, multimodal therapy, and tumor microenvironment stimulus-responsive cancer treatment. Lastly, we discuss the present challenges and future prospects of CDs as versatile nanotheranostic agents for cancer treatment.