Carbon quantum dots as emerging biosensors for food safety and environmental applications: Advances and challenges
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are the particles confined in all dimensions which often referred as zero dimensional nanomaterials. CQDs are becoming highly versatile nanomaterials because of their photocatalytic tunability, high biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and environmentally friendly synthesis...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Applied Food Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772502225005608 |
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| Summary: | Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are the particles confined in all dimensions which often referred as zero dimensional nanomaterials. CQDs are becoming highly versatile nanomaterials because of their photocatalytic tunability, high biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and environmentally friendly synthesis pathways. This review provides a detailed overview of recent advances in the synthesis, functional properties, and application of CQDs as biosensors for food safety and environmental monitoring. Review classifies synthesis methods into top-down and bottom-up methods, with special focus on green and sustainable processes using biomass and food waste. CQDs' distinctive optical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial characteristics are discussed with respect to their applicability in food contaminant detection, heavy metal detection, pathogens, and food additive detection. In addition, their application in smart packaging and real-time indicators of spoilage is considered. Specific limitations including low fluorescence quantum yield, no reproducibility of synthesis, and a lack of long-term biosafety data have been critically assessed. Lastly, concluded by outlining future directions such as CQD-based wearable biosensor development and new functionalization strategies to further improve sensitivity and stability. This review gives an excellent insight into the use of CQDs as future-generation biosensing materials, providing a pathway towards their scale-up and secure application in food and environmental industries. |
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| ISSN: | 2772-5022 |