A comprehensive review on carbon dots and graphene quantum dots based fluorescent sensor for biothiols

• Published in: Microchemical journal 2020-09, Vol.157, p.105011, Article 105011
• Main Authors: Khan, Zamir G., Patil, Pravin O.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon dots; Cysteine; Glutathione; Graphene quantum dots; Homocysteine; Sensors
• ISSN: 0026-265X; 1095-9149
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2020.105011

[Display omitted] •Intracellular biothiols play important roles in biological systems.•We present the state-of-the-art of CDs and GQDs based fluorescent sensors for biothiols.•The article also addresses mechanisms and strategies for fluorescent detection of biothiols using CDs and GQDs.•Sensitivity and selectivity against different biothiol species and other interfering substances are also discussed.•To the best of our knowledge, this review offers the broadest panorama of the state-of-the-art in biothiol sensors. Fluorescent carbon-based nanomaterials such as carbon dots (CDs) and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) owing to their high aqueous solubility, stable photoluminescence and good biocompatibility are showing greater interest in sensing of biothiols. Biothiols mainly glutathione (GSH), cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcys), considered to be an important tool in the clinical diagnosis of many disorders and diseases. Therefore, the development of new probes has fascinated considerable attention since they are simple, sensitive, rapid and cost effective. Although conventional sensors have been designed and widely applied in biothiols determination, but unfortunately they present many limitations and challenges. In this review, we provide a focused outline on the most recent developments concerning fluorescent based CDs and GQDs nanosensor for detection of biothiols. The most important reaction mechanisms and strategies for detection of biothiols were outlined and compared in terms of their sensitivity and selectivity against different biothiol species and other interfering substances viz. metal ions, amino acids, etc. Future research and challenges in designing of functionalized CDs and GQDs are discussed and elucidated.