Carbon dots for drug delivery: Insights into their potential in nanopharmacology

Carbon dots (CDs), a remarkable class of novel nanomaterials, have attracted significant attention in the biomedical field owing to their extraordinary chemical, physical, and biological properties. Among their diverse applications, CDs stand out as highly promising nanocarriers for drug delivery owing to their ability to cross cell membranes efficiently and deliver therapeutic agents directly to damaged cells or tissues. What makes CDs truly unique is their intrinsic photoluminescence and the abundance of reactive groups on their surface, allowing for extensive multifunctionalization. This versatility enables the conjugation of various functional groups, therapeutic molecules, biomolecules, and targeting ligands, paving the way for an integrated approach to diagnosis and therapy. This review highlights the latest advancements in the application of CDs for drug delivery, focusing on their use in anticancer and antiviral therapies, as well as in the treatment of osteoarticular diseases and neurological disorders. Particular attention is given to the critical aspects of biocompatibility and toxicity, which remain key challenges for their translation into clinical practice. These promising developments position CDs as cutting-edge tools in nanopharmacology, offering exciting opportunities for future therapeutic innovations. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Carbon dots represent a transformative class of nanomaterials whose tunable chemistry, intrinsic photoluminescence, and high biocompatibility make them highly promising for next-generation drug delivery. By enabling targeted, multifunctional, and trackable therapeutic strategies across cancer, viral infections, osteoarticular, and neurological diseases, carbon dots offer a unique platform that bridges diagnostics and therapy, with the potential to significantly advance precision medicine while addressing current limitations of conventional drug carriers.