Carbon Dot-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Targeted Therapy

Dear Colleagues,

Drug delivery is a rapidly evolving field in pharmaceutical analysis, generating nearly 60,000 publications per year, with a growing focus on controlled and targeted release systems. Among the various types of nanocarriers, Carbon Dots (CDs) have emerged as innovative platforms due to their unique physicochemical properties, such as high biocompatibility, tunable surface chemistry, and intrinsic photoluminescence. These characteristics enable CDs to efficiently encapsulate and transport therapeutic agents, improving drug stability, prolonging circulation time, and enabling targeted release.

Thanks to their nanometric size, CDs allow for a high drug load per unit volume and can extend the presence of therapeutic agents in the bloodstream, enhancing their efficacy. Their structure could protect drugs from premature degradation by enzymes and biological processes, facilitating controlled navigation through the body. Additionally, the surface of CDs can be easily functionalized to achieve selective targeting, prolonged drug retention, and reduced systemic toxicity. This versatility enables tailored drug release, including prolonged or in situ delivery, intracellular transport to specific organelles, or even gene delivery into the nucleus. These properties enhance therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse side effects. 

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research on the design, functionalization, and biomedical applications of Carbon Dot-based drug delivery systems, with a focus on targeted therapy. We welcome contributions exploring novel synthetic strategies, drug loading and release mechanisms, in vitro and in vivo studies, and their potential translation to clinical applications.

This Special Issue focuses on the development and application of Carbon Dot-based drug delivery systems for targeted therapy. Carbon Dots (CDs) have gained increasing attention as multifunctional nanocarriers due to their unique physicochemical properties, including high biocompatibility, tunable surface chemistry, intrinsic fluorescence, and excellent drug-loading capacity. These characteristics make them ideal candidates for controlled and stimuli-responsive drug release, intracellular drug delivery, and gene therapy applications.

We invite contributions that explore the following topics:

• Synthesis and functionalization strategies of Carbon Dots for enhanced drug delivery.
• Drug loading and release mechanisms, including stimuli-responsive approaches.
• Targeted therapy applications, such as cancer treatment, antimicrobial agents, and neurological diseases.
• Biological interactions and toxicity assessments in vitro and in vivo.
• Integration of Carbon Dots with imaging modalities for theranostic applications.
• Advancements in pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of CD-based drug carriers.
• Clinical translation potential, regulatory considerations, and scalability challenges.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for researchers studying innovative nano-based drug delivery systems to share their latest findings and perspectives on the future of Carbon Dot-based therapeutics.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rosana Badía
Dr. Alfonso Fernández-González
Guest Editors

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• carbon dots (CDs)
• drug delivery systems
• targeted therapy
• nanocarriers
• controlled release
• intracellular delivery
• nanomedicine
• gene delivery
• fluorescent nanomaterials
• bioimaging
• stimuli-responsive release
• smart drug carriers