Carbon Quantum Dots for Medical Applications

Despite the rapid development of science and technology, infection threatens human’s life. Infections are caused by the growing global population and increasing contamination of water and air. Antibiotics are generally prescribed to treat microbial infections. However, many microorganisms have mutated and developed resistance against antibiotics. Nanomaterials have been presently studied to use as an alternative to antibiotics, due to their advantageous properties and unique mechanisms of action towards microbes. Among various nanomaterials, carbon dots have attracted huge interest due to their unique physical, chemical, electrical, and biological properties. This book chapter explicitly targets the applications of carbon dots as antimicrobial agents and their toxicity effects in humans. In this chapter, various synthesis methods to control the physiochemical properties of carbon dots have been discussed. In addition, the antimicrobial and antiviral properties of carbon dots have been discussed. Notably, their mechanism of actions against various microbes has been discussed in detail. I believe this chapter will provide insights to readers on developing carbon dots for various biomedical applications.