Medicinal Plants Derived Green Carbon Dots - Synthesis, Characterization and Their Potential Applications in Cancer Therapy

Sep 21, 2026

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This review explores how carbon dots (CDs) derived from medicinal plants can be synthesized and characterized for cancer prevention and therapy. A comprehensive literature search summarizes green synthesis routes, including aqueous, alcoholic, and hydroalcoholic plant extracts, and the use of precursors such as graphite, carbon black, and organic molecules. Emphasis is placed on CDs’ chemical and biological advantages for drug transport, bioimaging, biosensing, and anticancer treatment. The review also evaluates strengths and limitations of different methods and discusses multimodal PDT/PTT strategies to reduce systemic toxicity.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time48 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Carbon Dots in Medical Applications

Medicinal Plants as Sustainable Precursors

Advantages of Green Synthesis

Scope of Applications in Cancer Therapy

REVIEW Editorial Process: Submission:04/15/2024 Acceptance:10/19/2024 Medicinal Plants Derived Green Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Characterization and Their Potential Applications in Cancer Therapy Shuraish Paveethra, Hemagirri Manisekaran, Sreenivasan Sasidharan* Abstract Objective: This review aims to explore the synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of carbon dots (CDs) derived from medicinal plants for cancer prevention, highlighting their role as a promising alternative in nanotechnological approaches. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to gather information on the synthesis methods, complex matrices, characterization techniques, and potential applications of CDs derived from medicinal plants in cancer therapy. Result: Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as a subject of significant interest due to their favorable chemical and biological properties. Various precursors, including graphite, carbon black, and organic molecules, are utilized in the synthesis of CDs through chemical or physical methods. Notably, CDs derived from medicinal plants offer environmentally friendly alternatives, leveraging complex matrices such as aqueous, alcoholic, and hydroalcoholic extracts. This review emphasizes the green synthesis approaches, characterization techniques, and diverse applications of CDs, including drug transport, bioimaging, biosensing, and anti-cancer therapies. Furthermore, it highlights the advantages and disadvantages of different synthesis methods, aiding researchers in selecting appropriate techniques for continuous production. Conclusion: Carbon dots (CDs) represent a transformative advancement innanotheranostics, offering a versatile platform for precise cancer diagnosis and therapy. With inherent anticancer properties, CDs hold promise in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT), enabling precise tumor targeting while minimizing systemic toxicity. To address the limitations of standalone PDT and PTT, researchers are exploring multimodal treatment approaches integrating CDs. By leveraging the unique properties of CDs derived from medicinal plants, a new era of precision cancer therapy may be realized, emphasizing enhanced therapeutic outcomesand reduced adverse effects. Keywords: Carbon Dots-complex matrices-medicinal plant-nanotechnology-green synthesis-cancer therapy Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 25 (10), 3393-3411 Introduction Carbon Dots (CDs) known as ultrafine zero-dimensional nanomaterials named after the main compositional element that exhibits fluorescence behaviours, were first discovered accidentally during separation and purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CN) [1] . CDs are the latest nanoparticles with a distinctive diameter of 1 to 10 nanometers that are made from carbon atoms [2]. Recently, CDs have attracted great interest and studied extensively in recent years owing to their unique properties and potential in many fields. This fluorescent nanoscale or Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) [3] exploration has been pursued for their uses in luminescence imaging in vivo and in vitro, yielding results that not solely serve as the pioneer demonstration of extensively prognosticated potential but also discovered for further expansion. Graphene oxide sheets, carbon nanotubes and graphene QCDs are examples that have been identified as a compelling platform for medical applications. Each of these materials has remarkable challenges from conjugation to implementation [4] . CDs have lately been used asa safe alternative candidate as they possess excellent efficiency in both light absorption and emission [5] . CDs as a new allotrope for carbon particles also exhibit exceptional benefits including environmentally friendly biocompatibility, low cytotoxic activities, impermeability towards chemicals [6-8] and optical properties such as excellent photoinduced electron transmission facilitatedin targeted drug delivery, bio-imaging and bio-sensing for biomedic

FAQs

What is the main objective of this review?

To explore synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of medicinal-plant-derived carbon dots for cancer prevention and therapy, highlighting their promise in nanotechnological approaches.

What synthesis routes are discussed for medicinal plants derived carbon dots?

The review focuses on green synthesis using complex matrices such as aqueous, alcoholic, and hydroalcoholic extracts, alongside physical or chemical methods with common carbon precursors.

Which characterization and biomedical applications are emphasized?

It emphasizes characterization techniques and applications including drug transport, bioimaging, biosensing, and anti-cancer therapies, including photodynamic and photothermal approaches.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Aurelia