Carbon nanodots: Synthesis, mechanisms for bio-electrical applications

Due to the exceptional optical properties such as biocompatibility, and low toxicity, carbon nanodots (CNDs) have emerged as a potential material for biosensing, drug delivery, and bioimaging. As a result, CNDs preparation, properties, and applications have sparked much attention. Its advantages include great biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo, photobleaching resistance, ease of surface functionalization and bio-conjugation, excellent colloidal stability, environmentally safe manufacturing, and low cost. This allowed CNDs to replace traditional fluorescent heavy metal-containing semiconductor quantum dots or organic dyes. CNDs have demonstrated a wide range of applications, despite the fact that the mechanism of their photoluminescence remains a mystery. In this review, we examine current advancements in the field of CNDs and provide a complete overview of their synthesis techniques and emission processes along with their applications in biosensing, drug delivery, bioimaging, wound healing, and disease detection biosensors.