Carbon dot-based nanohybrids for tumor microenvironment-activated cancer theranostics

Abstract

The complex tumor microenvironment and tumor self-protection limit the efficacy of anticancer drugs, impeding clinical translation. Designing intelligent nanomedicines that integrate diagnosis and therapy is pivotal for advancing cancer treatment. Carbon dots (CDs), with tunable fluorescence and versatile surface chemistry, have been used in diagnosis and therapy. These properties enable CD-based nanohybrids to deliver precise, image-guided tumor therapy. This review summarizes the history of CDs, the construction of CD-based nanohybrids, and their applications in tumor microenvironment–activated, image-guided cooperative tumor therapies. Finally, we discuss future research directions and clinical translation challenges. We aim to inform the rational design of CD-based nanohybrids for precise tumor treatment.