Phyto-Entrapped Carbon Dots as Emerging Nanomaterials for Anti-Cancer Activity

Notice

This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2025 | Volume : 16 | 03 | Page :
    By

    Ankur Thakur,

  • Lovish sharma,

  • Komal Pathania,

  1. Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy, Chitkara University School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India
  2. Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy, Chitkara University School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India
  3. Assistant professor, Department of Pharmacy, Chitkara University School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract

Phytoconstituent-loaded carbon dots (C-dots) represent an innovative approach in targeted cancer therapy, combining the therapeutic power of plant-derived compounds with the advanced capabilities of nanotechnology. These ultra-small, biocompatible nanostructures offer excellent fluorescence, tunable surface chemistry, and low toxicity, making them ideal for drug delivery, bioimaging, and theranostic applications. Traditional phytochemicals often face challenges like poor solubility, low bioavailability, and high first-pass metabolism barriers that C-dots help overcome. C-dots synthesized through eco-friendly methods from natural sources such as fruit peels or plant waste can be functionalized to enhance the therapeutic delivery of compounds like curcumin, berberine, and quercetin. They enable targeted delivery, controlled release, and improved cellular uptake, especially in hard-to-treat cancers such as brain tumors and triple-negative breast cancer. Studies show their utility in phototherapy, diagnostics, and real-time imaging. Despite promising in vitro and in vivo results, challenges remain in synthesis reproducibility, large-scale production, and clinical translation. This review emphasizes the potential of phytochemical-loaded C-dots in oncology, advocating for further research into scalable synthesis, bioactivity testing, and optimized delivery strategies to advance them toward clinical applications.

Keywords: Anti-cancer, Carbon-dots, Phytochemicals, Nanotechnology, formulation

How to cite this article:
Ankur Thakur, Lovish sharma, Komal Pathania. Phyto-Entrapped Carbon Dots as Emerging Nanomaterials for Anti-Cancer Activity. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Pharmaceutical Science. 2025; 16(03):-.
How to cite this URL:
Ankur Thakur, Lovish sharma, Komal Pathania. Phyto-Entrapped Carbon Dots as Emerging Nanomaterials for Anti-Cancer Activity. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Pharmaceutical Science. 2025; 16(03):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjops/article=2025/view=225288


References

  1. Sarwa, K. K., Patel, D., Uraon, D., Jangde, M. S., Suryawanshi, V. K., & Saraf, S. (2022). Nanoparticulate delivery systems for phytoconstituents. Phytoantioxidants and Nanotherapeutics, 121-138.
  2. Hui, S. (2023). Carbon dots (CDs): basics, recent potential biomedical applications, challenges, and future perspectives. Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 25(4), 68.
  3. Sciortino, A., Cannizzo, A., & Messina, F. (2018). Carbon nanodots: a review—from the current understanding of the fundamental photophysics to the full control of the optical response. C, 4(4), 67.
  4. Kadyan, P., Kumar, M., Tufail, A., Ragusa, A., Kataria, S. K., & Dubey, A. (2025). Microwave-assisted green synthesis of fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) using Azadirachta indica leaves: enhanced synergistic action of antioxidant and antimicrobial effects and unveiling computational insights. Materials Advances, 6(2), 805-826.
  5.  Sonowal, A., Bharali, A., Saikia, T., Kushari, S., Lahon, M., Kalita, J. M., … & Sahu, B. P. (2024). Citrus aurantifolia-derived carbon quantum dots with red fluorescence emission for codelivery with curcumin as theranostic liposomes for lung cancer. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10(1), 116.
  6. Kajani, A. A., Rafiee, L., Javanmard, S. H., Dana, N., & Jandaghian, S. (2023). Carbon dot incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging. RSC advances, 13(14), 9491-9500.
  7. Amloys, S., Lukprang, T., LERTWORAPREECHA, M., & PREECHABURANA, P. (2024). Green synthesis of carbon dots from mangosteen peel for fluorescent cancer cells. Journal of Metals, Materials and Minerals, 34(2), 1957-1957.
  8. Hatimuria, M., Phukan, P., Bag, S., Ghosh, J., Gavvala, K., Pabbathi, A., & Das, J. (2023). Green carbon dots: applications in development of electrochemical sensors, assessment of toxicity as well as anticancer properties. Catalysts, 13(3), 537.
  9. İlhan, H. (2023). Green Synthesis of Biocompatible Hybrid Ginger/Chitosan Carbon Nanodot Exhibiting Antiproliferative Activity on Carcinoma Cells. Journal of the Institute of Science and Technology, 13(3), 1916-1925.
  10. Mishra, S., Das, K., Chatterjee, S., Sahoo, P., Kundu, S., Pal, M., … & Ghosh, C. K. (2023). Facile and green synthesis of novel fluorescent carbon quantum dots and their silver heterostructure: An in vitro anticancer activity and imaging on colorectal carcinoma. ACS omega, 8(5), 4566-4577.
  11. Ensafi, A. A., Sefat, S. H., Kazemifard, N., Rezaei, B., & Moradi, F. (2017). A novel one-step and green synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots from saffron for cell imaging and sensing of prilocaine. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 253, 451-460.
  12. Kanwal, A., Bibi, N., Hyder, S., Muhammad, A., Ren, H., Liu, J., & Lei, Z. (2022). Recent advances in green carbon dots (2015–2022): synthesis, metal ion sensing, and biological applications. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology, 13(1), 1068-1107.
  13. Saini, A., Nandi, A., Gupta, G. D., Sharma, A., & Sharma, K. Green Synthesis of Curcumin Loaded Carbon Dots as a Sustained Drug Delivery for Anticancer Therapy. Current pharmaceutical design.
  14. Calabrese, G., De Luca, G., Nocito, G., Rizzo, M. G., Lombardo, S. P., Chisari, G., … & Conoci, S. (2021). Carbon dots: an innovative tool for drug delivery in brain tumors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(21), 11783.
  15. Sun, L., Zhao, Y., Peng, H., Zhou, J., Zhang, Q., Yan, J., … & Li, B. (2024). Carbon dots as a novel photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer and bacterial infectious diseases: recent advances. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 22(1), 210.
  16. Nsairat, H., Lafi, Z., Al-Sulaibi, M., Gharaibeh, L., & Alshaer, W. (2023). Impact of nanotechnology on the oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds. Food chemistry, 424, 136438.
  17. Nsairat, H., Lafi, Z., Al-Sulaibi, M., Gharaibeh, L., & Alshaer, W. (2023). Impact of nanotechnology on the oral delivery of phyto-bioactive compounds. Food chemistry, 424, 136438.
  18. Sattariazar, S., Arsalani, N., & Ebrahimi, S. N. (2023). Biological assessment of synthesized carbon dots from polyphenol enriched extract of pomegranate peel, incorporated with Mentha piperita essential oil. Materials Chemistry and Physics, 294, 126981.
  19. Naik, K., Chaudhary, S., Ye, L., & Parmar, A. S. (2022). A strategic review on carbon quantum dots for cancer-diagnostics and treatment. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10, 882100..
  20. Bhattacharya, T., Preetam, S., Mukherjee, S., Kar, S., Roy, D. S., Singh, H., … & Mohapatra, G. (2024). Anticancer activity of quantum size carbon dots: opportunities and challenges. Discover Nano, 19(1), 122.
  21. Vallejo, F. A., Sigdel, G., Veliz, E. A., Leblanc, R. M., Vanni, S., & Graham, R. M. (2023). Carbon dots in treatment of pediatric brain tumors: past, present, and future directions. International journal of molecular sciences, 24(11), 9562.
  22. Fahmi, M. Z., Aung, Y. Y., Ahmad, M. A., Kristanti, A. N., Sakti, S. C. W., Arjasa, O. P., & Lee, H. V. (2023). In vivo Study of Chalcone Loaded Carbon Dots for Enhancement of Anticancer and Bioimaging Potencies. Nanotheranostics, 7(3), 281.
  23. Wang, Y., Chen, J., Tian, J., Wang, G., Luo, W., Huang, Z., … & Fan, X. (2022). Tryptophan-sorbitol based carbon quantum dots for theranostics against hepatocellular carcinoma. Journal of nanobiotechnology, 20(1), 78.
  24. Sarwa, K. K., Patel, D., Uraon, D., Jangde, M. S., Suryawanshi, V. K., & Saraf, S. (2022). Nanoparticulate delivery      systems for phytoconstituents. Phytoantioxidants and Nanotherapeutics, 121-138.
  25. Yang, Y., & Ling, W. (2024). Health benefits and future research of phytochemicals: a literature review. The Journal of Nutrition.
  26. Tok, K., Barlas, F. B., Bayır, E., Şenışık, A. M., Zihnioglu, F., & Timur, S. (2025). One step synthesis of tryptophan-isatin carbon nano dots and bio-applications as multifunctional nanoplatforms. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 114533.
  27. Bhaskar, R., Ola, M., Kamthe, T. U., Patle, P. H., & Wagh, V. (2025). Leveraging the potential of carbon: carbon quantum dots as a versatile probe for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics, 15(2).
  28. Sonowal, R., et al. (2024). Citrus-derived carbon dots co-delivered with curcumin in liposomes for lung cancer. Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 10, 116.
  29. Kazeminava, F., Javanbakht, S., Latifi, Z., Rasoulzadehzali, M., Abbaszadeh, M., Alimohammadzadeh, B., … & Nouri, M. (2024). Ultrasound-assisted encapsulating folic acid-based carbon quantum dots within breast cancer cell-derived exosomes as a co-receptors-mediated anticancer nanocarrier for enhanced breast cancer therapy. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 16941.
  30. Kajani, A. A., Rafiee, L., Javanmard, S. H., Dana, N., & Jandaghian, S. (2023). Carbon dot incorporated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for targeted cancer therapy and fluorescence imaging. RSC advances, 13(14), 9491-9500.
  31. Priyanshu and Thakur, Ankur (2025) Unlocking the Therapeutic Power of Coriander: A Review of Coriandrum Sativum’s Bioactive Compounds and Health Benefits. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 10 (5): 25may102. pp. 438-452. 
  32. Sharma, A., Panwar, V., Thomas, J., Chopra, V., Roy, H. S., & Ghosh, D. (2021). Actin-binding carbon dots selectively target glioblastoma cells while sparing normal cells. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 200, 111572.
  33. Wang, M., Lan, S., Song, M., Zhang, R., Zhang, W., Sun, X., & Liu, G. (2024). Synthesis of Zinc Oxide-Doped Carbon Dots for Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 13949-13
  34. Thakur, A., Pathania, K., & Sharma, L. Exploring the Potential of Nigella Sativa Seeds: A Modern Perspective on an Ancient Remedy.
Ahead of Print Subscription Review Article
Volume 16
03
Received 24/06/2025
Accepted 29/07/2025
Published 01/09/2025
Publication Time 69 Days
113


My IP

PlumX Metrics