New Opportunities and Recent Advances in Carbon Dots for Sustainable and Intelligent Food Packaging

Carbon dots (CDs) are becoming increasingly popular in various sectors due to their non-toxic, biocompatible properties and adjustable photoluminescence. There is a growing interest in utilizing CDs to create advanced sensing systems, especially in the food industry. By embedding a CD-based detection platform within food packaging, it is feasible to monitor food quality in real-time. This review provides a succinct overview of the synthesis techniques, different functionalizations, and current applications of CDs. Additionally, it investigates the physicochemical and biological characteristics of CDs that make them ideal for integration into smart food packaging systems, highlights their versatile applications in sensing technologies, and underscores their contribution to improving food safety and quality. Specific applications include detecting changes in pH, detecting ammonia, pathogens, and food additives, and providing real-time monitoring capabilities to mitigate risks associated with food contamination and spoilage. This review also discusses consumer acceptance of CD-based intelligent packaging and addresses concerns related to safety and consumer perception. The incorporation of CDs into eco-friendly and smart food packaging holds significant promise for transforming the food packaging sector. This innovation not only boosts safety but also offers real-time monitoring features. By harnessing the distinctive characteristics of CDs and investigating novel applications, the advancement of CD-infused packaging materials marks a crucial progression toward creating sustainable and intelligent food packaging solutions.