Antiviral Applications of Carbon Quantum Dots

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are sub‐10 nm carbon nanoparticles with a graphitic core and tunable surface chemistry. Their water solubility, low cytotoxicity and intrinsic photoluminescence have driven interest in their biomedical applications, including antiviral strategies. CQDs act through multiple mechanisms: they can bind to viral surface proteins or host‐cell receptors to block attachment, generate reactive oxygen species that impair viral integrity and, when appropriately functionalised, stimulate immune responses. Diverse synthesis routes and post‐synthetic modifications enable the fine‐tuning of charge, hydrophobicity and targeting ligands, yielding broad‐spectrum activity against enveloped and non‐enveloped viruses. Emerging uses span from antiviral coatings and disinfectants to delivery vehicles that enhance vaccine stability and targeted therapeutics. The global significance of CQDs arises from their scalable production, environmental friendliness and potential to address both established and emerging viral threats with rapid, cost-effective nanotechnologies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Early foundational work has demonstrated that surface-passivated carbon dots can achieve near-complete inhibition of norovirus virus-like particles binding to human cell receptors. By varying passivation molecules and surface charge, researchers observed that positively charged dots fully prevented receptor engagement at low microgram-per-millilitre concentrations, highlighting the critical role of electrostatic interactions in viral neutralisation. This study also confirmed that viral capsid integrity remained intact, indicating a non-destructive mode of action focused on entry blockade.

Antiviral Applications of Carbon Quantum Dots publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in antiviral applications of carbon quantum dots across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs): Nanoscale carbon particles typically under 10 nm in diameter, possessing a graphitic core and surface functional groups that confer photoluminescence and water solubility.

Surface functionalisation: Chemical modification of nanoparticle surfaces to introduce specific ligands or charges that enhance targeting, solubility or biological interactions.

Virus-like particles (VLPs): Non-infectious assemblies mimicking the structural proteins of viruses, used to study binding and entry without replication risk.

Photoluminescence: Emission of light by a material upon excitation by photons, utilised in CQDs for imaging, sensing and monitoring antiviral interactions.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive chemicals containing oxygen that can damage viral components, contributing to antiviral efficacy of certain nanoparticles.

References

1. Antiviral Activity of Carbon Dots: Strategies and Mechanisms of Action. Small Structures (2024).
2. Carbon Dots’ Antiviral Functions Against Noroviruses. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Recent advances in carbon quantum dots for virus detection, as well as inhibition and treatment of viral infection. Nano Convergence (2022).
4. Carbonized Lysine-Nanogels Protect against Infectious Bronchitis Virus. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2021).