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Review of long wavelength luminescent carbon-based nanomaterials: preparation, biomedical application and future challenges

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Abstract

Carbon-based luminescent nanomaterials have attracted much attention in the biomedical field. Compared to traditional photoluminescent materials (such as rare earth-based semiconductors and organic dyes), they have excellent biocompatibility, low toxicity, excellent optical stability and site-targeting properties in addition to their low cost and environmentally friendly features. Carbon dots, a typical carbon-based luminescent material, have great application potential in biomedicine, biological imaging and optoelectronics. Actual biological imaging, however, uses low-level photon scattering and light absorption to avoid self-fluorescence by the target tissues, requiring the light waves to have strong tissue penetration ability. Long wavelength (red and near-infrared) is known to have strong tissue penetration. However, carbon dots in the long wavelength region give a low quantum yield. Thus, obtaining long wavelength-emitting carbon dots with high quantum yield is a big challenge in practical bioimaging and phototherapy. In this paper, recent progress in the development of long wavelength, strongly luminescence-emitting carbon dots, the mechanisms and methods to regulate their optical properties and improve their quantum yield are reviewed. Recent applications of carbon dots in biosensing, bioimaging and therapy are described. Finally, the future challenges and prospects of long wavelength carbon-based luminescent materials are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 61575196), the Talent Development Three Hundred Plan of Neijiang (No. RSC201701), and the Major Project of Science & Technology Department in Sichuan Province (No. 2016JY0168), Chongqing Talents Program (Grant No. CQYC201905041), The Chongqing Scientific and Technological Program Project of China (cstc2019jcyj-msxmX0663). The science and technology research program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission (Grant No. KJQN201904102).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Analytical Testing Center, Institute of Micro and Nano Intelligent Sensing, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, 641100, People’s Republic of China

    Feng Huo, Wenqiong Li & Yuhang Liu

  2. Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaohong Liu & Wei Zhang

  3. Chongqing Youth Vocational and Technical College, Chongqing, 400712, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaohong Liu

  4. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Gelugor, Penang, Malaysia

    Chong-Yew Lee

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  1. Feng Huo
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Huo, F., Li, W., Liu, Y. et al. Review of long wavelength luminescent carbon-based nanomaterials: preparation, biomedical application and future challenges. J Mater Sci 56, 2814–2837 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05435-3

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