Carbon Dots as Advanced Drug-Delivery Nanoplatforms for Antiinflammatory, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Applications: A Review

Carbon dots (CDs), as rapidly developing nanomaterials,give newprospects for the treatment of various diseases. Their great biocompatibilityand wide specific surface area make CDs excellent drug-delivery vehiclesbecause they improve cellular uptake and absorption and allow formedications to bind more easily. CDs offer enormous potential as deliverysystems for antiinflammatory medications. The activities of antiinflammatorydrugs delivered by CDs are higher than those of free drugs. They alsohave controlled release, thus enhancing the cumulative effect at theinflammation site and improving pharmacokinetics. Compared with freesmall-molecule antibacterial medicines, CD-based drug-delivery systemshave higher antibacterial efficacies, better targeting, increasedcellular uptake and internalization efficiency, and decreased systemicside effects. The benefits of using CDs as anticancer drug carriersinclude high drug loading, increased targeting, lower drug dosage,regulated drug release, and synergistic photothermal therapy, whichoffers a novel approach to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer inclinical settings. However, it is important to consider the biosafety,toxicity, and impact of CDs on the immune system of an organism beforeusing them as drug-delivery vehicles for clinical diagnosis and therapy.This review discusses the use of CDs in the delivery of antiinflammatory,antibacterial, and anticancer drugs and summarizes the current advantagesand challenges of using CDs for drug delivery.

Automated summary

Carbon dots (CDs) have great potential in drug delivery, especially in the treatment of inflammatory, bacterial, and cancer diseases. CDs improve cellular uptake and absorption and have controlled release properties, enhancing the therapeutic effects. They also offer advantages such as high drug-loading, increased targeting, and reduced systemic side effects. However, the safety and toxicity of CDs need to be carefully evaluated before their clinical application.