Int J Stomatol ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (1): 25-33.doi: 10.7518/gjkq.2025018

• Oral Oncology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of carbon dots to the diagnosis and treatment of oral and maxillofacial malignant tumors

Tianyu Fu1(),Xue Zhang2,Siqi Wang1,Chengyi Guo1,Xiaoyu Dong1,Yapeng Cheng1,Rui Li3()   

  1. 1.School of Stomatology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
    2.Dept. of Oral Medicine, the First Affilia-ted Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
    3.Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
  • Received:2024-06-15 Revised:2024-09-02 Online:2025-01-01 Published:2025-01-11
  • Contact: Rui Li E-mail:3129531805@qq.com;liruisichuan@163.com

Abstract:

Owing to advancements in nanomaterials and diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, nanomedicine has attracted considerable interest. Carbon dots are zero-dimensional nanomaterials with fluorescent properties and applicable to the diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer. They potentially enhance detection sensitivity, reduce adverse drug reactions, and improve therapeutic efficacy, thereby providing a new avenue for the management of oral cancer. This paper reviews progress in research on carbon-dot-based strategies for oral cancer diagnosis and treatment and their applications in chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy. It also explores the feasibility of using carbon dots in oral cancer management and potential development in the biomedical field.

Key words: carbon dots, oral cancer, diagnosis, chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, immunotherapy

CLC Number: 

  • R739.8

TrendMD: 

Fig 1

The schematic diagram of the principle of PDT"

Fig 2

The schematic diagram of the principle of PTT"

1 钟来平, 孙坚, 郭伟, 等. 256例局部晚期口腔癌的生存分析[J]. 中国肿瘤临床, 2015, 42(4): 217-221.
Zhong LP, Sun J, Guo W, et al. Survival analysis of 256 patients with oral cancer[J]. Chin J Clin Oncol, 2015, 42(4): 217-221.
2 韩小琴, 周俊年, 李小军, 等. 以手术切除为主的序贯综合治疗方案对局部晚期口腔癌的临床疗效[J]. 中国实用乡村医生杂志, 2023, 30(12): 64-67.
Han XQ, Zhou JN, Li XJ, et al. The clinical efficacy of a sequential comprehensive treatment plan mainly based on surgical resection for locally advanced oral cancer[J]. Chin Pract J Rural Dr, 2023, 30(12): 64-67.
3 Alvi A, Johnson JT. Extracapsular spread in the clini-cally negative neck (N0): implications and outcome[J]. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 1996, 114(1): 65-70.
4 Pfister DG, Spencer S, Brizel DM, et al. Head and neck cancers, version 1. 2015[J]. J Natl Compr Canc Netw, 2015, 13(7): 847-856.
5 Bewley AF, Farwell DG. Oral leukoplakia and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma[J]. Clin Dermatol, 2017, 35(5): 461-467.
6 Li HT, He XD, Kang ZH, et al. Water-soluble fluorescent carbon quantum dots and photocatalyst design[J]. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 2010, 49(26): 4430-4434.
7 Zhou JG, Booker C, Li RY, et al. An electrochemical avenue to blue luminescent nanocrystals from multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)[J]. J Am Chem Soc, 2007, 129(4): 744-745.
8 Yang ZC, Wang M, Yong AM, et al. Intrinsically fluo-rescent carbon dots with tunable emission derived from hydrothermal treatment of glucose in the pre-sence of monopotassium phosphate[J]. Chem Commun, 2011, 47(42): 11615-11617.
9 Xu XY, Ray R, Gu YL, et al. Electrophoretic analysis and purification of fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotube fragments[J]. J Am Chem Soc, 2004, 126(40): 12736-12737.
10 Gong XJ, Lu WJ, Liu Y, et al. Low temperature synthesis of phosphorous and nitrogen co-doped yellow fluorescent carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging[J]. J Mater Chem B, 2015, 3(33): 6813-6819.
11 Mewada A, Pandey S, Thakur M, et al. Swarming carbon dots for folic acid mediated delivery of doxorubicin and biological imaging[J]. J Mater Chem B, 2014, 2(6): 698-705.
12 Yang L, Wang ZR, Wang J, et al. Doxorubicin conjugated functionalizable carbon dots for nucleus targeted delivery and enhanced therapeutic efficacy[J]. Nanoscale, 2016, 8(12): 6801-6809.
13 Michalet X, Pinaud FF, Bentolila LA, et al. Quantum dots for live cells, in vivo imaging, and diagnostics[J]. Science, 2005, 307(5709): 538-544.
14 Chu SY, Wang HQ, Du YX, et al. Portable smartphone platform integrated with a nanoprobe-based fluorescent paper strip: visual monitoring of glutathione in human serum for health prognosis[J]. ACS Sustainable Chem Eng, 2020, 8(22): 8175-8183.
15 Li Z, Liu WD, Ni PJ, et al. Carbon dots confined in N-doped carbon as peroxidase-like nanozyme for detection of gastric cancer relevant D-amino acids[J]. Chem Eng J, 2022, 428: 131396.
16 Peng XX, Yang HP, Li CC, et al. Green and orange fluorescent carbon dots for detecting oral cancer by staining tissue sections[J]. J Nanosci Nanotechnol, 2019, 19(12): 7509-7516.
17 Behi M, Naficy S, Chandrawati R, et al. Nanoassembled peptide biosensors for rapid detection of matrilysin cancer biomarker[J]. Small, 2020, 16(16): e1905994.
18 Sri S, Kumar R, Panda AK, et al. Highly biocompa-tible, fluorescence, and zwitterionic carbon dots as a novel approach for bioimaging applications in cancerous cells[J]. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2018, 10(44): 37835-37845.
19 Gao J, Zhu XH, Long Y, et al. Boronic acid-decora-ted carbon dot-based semiselective multichannel sensor array for cytokine discrimination and oral cancer diagnosis[J]. Anal Chem, 2024, 96(4): 1795-1802.
20 Sun JH, Zhang W, Zhang DY, et al. Multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles as efficient transporters of doxorubicin and chlorin e6 for chemo-photodynamic combinatorial cancer therapy[J]. J Biomater Appl, 2018, 32(9): 1253-1264.
21 杨磊. 基于功能化碳点抗肿瘤药物载体的构建和性质研究[D]. 沈阳: 沈阳药科大学, 2016.
Yang L. Study on novel anti-tumor drug delivery system based on functionalized carbon dots[D]. Shen-yang: Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, 2016.
22 刘玉兰, 孟琳, 唐琪, 等. 抗坏血酸碳点通过促进自噬杀伤舌鳞癌细胞[J]. 口腔医学研究, 2018, 34(1): 35-38.
Liu YL, Meng L, Tang Q, et al. Ascorbic acid carbon dots kill tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell by promoting autophagy[J]. J Oral Sci Res, 2018, 34(1): 35-38.
23 杜方凯, 徐江生, 曾钫, 等. 基于碳点多功能纳米载药体系的制备及pH响应释药性能研究[J]. 化学学报, 2016, 74(3): 241-250.
Du FK, Xu JS, Zeng F, et al. Preparation of a multifunctional nano-carrier system based on carbon dots with pH-triggered drug release[J]. Acta Chim Sin, 2016, 74(3): 241-250.
24 Samantara AK, Maji S, Ghosh A, et al. Good’s buffer derived highly emissive carbon quantum dots: excellent biocompatible anticancer drug carrier[J]. J Mater Chem B, 2016, 4(14): 2412-2420.
25 袁一方. 碳量子点负载阿霉素靶向攻击细胞核治疗癌症的研究[D]. 北京: 中国人民解放军医学院,2018.
Yuan YF. Doxorubicin-loaded carbon dots as a no-vel drug delivery system for nucleus targeted cancer therapy[D]. Beijing: Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Medical School, 2018.
26 张万林, 李一村, 杨宏宇. 基于RNA-Seq技术初步探索顺铂在口腔鳞状细胞癌的相关耐药机制[J]. 遵义医科大学学报, 2024, 47(1): 53-61.
Zhang WL, Li YC, Yang HY. Investigating cisplatin drug resistance mechanism in oral squamous cells carcinoma through RNA-Seq technology: a preliminary study[J]. J Zunyi Med Univ, 2024, 47(1):53-61.
27 Wei Z, Yin XT, Cai Y, et al. Antitumor effect of a Pt-loaded nanocomposite based on graphene quantum dots combats hypoxia-induced chemoresistance of oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. Int J Nanomedicine, 2018, 13: 1505-1524.
28 唐琪. 抗坏血酸碳点诱导的自噬对口腔黏膜鳞癌KB细胞凋亡的作用研究[D]. 长春: 吉林大学, 2017.
Tang Q. Effect of autophagy induced by ascorbic acid carbon dots on apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line KB cells[D].Changchun: Jinlin University, 2017
29 陈李鑫. 聚多巴胺和MnO2修饰紫杉醇碳量子点协同治疗口腔鳞状细胞癌的体外研究[D].兰州: 兰州大学, 2023.
Chen LX. Synergistic treatment of squamous cell carcinoma with polydopamine and MnO2-modified paclitaxel carbon dots[D]. Lanzhou: Lanzhou University, 2023.
30 Zhang Y, Wang CX, Huang SW. Aggregation- induced emission (AIE) polymeric micelles for ima-ging-guided photodynamic cancer therapy[J]. Nanomaterials (Basel), 2018, 8(11): 921.
31 Liu ZY, Xie ZJ, Li WT, et al. Photodynamic immunotherapy of cancers based on nanotechnology: recent advances and future challenges[J]. J Nanobiotechnology, 2021, 19(1): 160.
32 Bacellar IOL, Tsubone TM, Pavani C, et al. Photodynamic efficiency: from molecular photochemistry to cell death[J]. Int J Mol Sci, 2015, 16(9): 20523-20559.
33 Tzerkovsky DA. Multiple-field interstitial photodynamic therapy of subcutaneously transplanted cholan-giocellular carcinoma RS-1 in rats[J]. Exp Oncol, 2017, 39(2): 117-120.
34 Zhu X, Wang H, Zheng LB, et al. Upconversion nanoparticle-mediated photodynamic therapy indu-ces THP-1 macrophage apoptosis via ROS bursts and activation of the mitochondrial caspase pathway[J]. Int J Nanomedicine, 2015, 10: 3719-3736.
35 Huang YY, Sharma SK, Dai TH, et al. Can nanotechnology potentiate photodynamic therapy[J]. Nano-technol Rev, 2012, 1(2): 111-146.
36 Kong TT, Liu TJ, Zhang YJ, et al. Carbon dots with intrinsic theranostic properties for photodynamic therapy of oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. J Biomater Appl, 2022, 37(5): 850-858.
37 Li QR, Zhou RH, Xie Y, et al. Sulphur-doped carbon dots as a highly efficient nano-photodynamic agent against oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. Cell Prolif, 2020, 53(4): e12786.
38 Nasrin A, Hassan M, Gomes VG. Two-photon active nucleus-targeting carbon dots: enhanced ROS generation and photodynamic therapy for oral cancer[J]. Nanoscale, 2020, 12(40): 20598-20603.
39 Ban QF, Bai T, Duan X, et al. Noninvasive photothermal cancer therapy nanoplatforms via integra-ting nanomaterials and functional polymers[J]. Biomater Sci, 2017, 5(2): 190-210.
40 Ha Lien NT, Phan AD, van Khanh BT, et al. Applications of mesoporous silica-encapsulated gold nanorods loaded doxorubicin in chemo-photothermal the-rapy[J]. ACS Omega, 2020, 5(32): 20231-20237.
41 Liu R, Zhang HC, Zhang FR, et al. Polydopamine doped reduced graphene oxide/mesoporous silica nanosheets for chemo-photothermal and enhanced photothermal therapy[J]. Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 2019, 96: 138-145.
42 Chen S, Zhu LJ, Du Z, et al. Polymer encapsulated clinical ICG nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal therapy and NIR fluorescence imaging in cervical cancer[J]. RSC Adv, 2021, 11(34): 20850-20858.
43 Das RK, Panda S, Bhol CS, et al. N-doped carbon quantum dot (NCQD)-deposited carbon capsules for synergistic fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy of oral cancer[J]. Langmuir, 2019, 35(47): 15320-15329.
44 秦丽颖. 高稳定碳点纳米复合材料应用于舌鳞癌标记和治疗的研究[D]. 兰州: 兰州大学, 2023.
Qin LY. Application of highly stable carbon dot nanocomposites for the labeling and treatment of tongue squamous cell carcinoma[D]. Lanzhou: Lanzhou University, 2023.
45 Yu I, Dakwar A, Takabe K. Immunotherapy: recent advances and its future as a neoadjuvant, adjuvant, and primary treatment in colorectal cancer[J]. Cells, 2023, 12(2): 258.
46 Wang Z, Han J, Guo Z, et al. Ginseng-based carbon dots inhibit the growth of squamous cancer cells by increasing ferroptosis[J]. Front Oncol, 2023, 13: 1097692.
47 Zhang XL, Li HY, Yi C, et al. Host immune response triggered by graphene quantum-dot-media-ted photodynamic therapy for oral squamous cell carcinoma[J]. Int J Nanomedicine, 2020, 15: 9627-9638.
48 Fan WP, Yung B, Huang P, et al. Nanotechnology for multimodal synergistic cancer therapy[J]. Chem Rev, 2017, 117(22): 13566-13638.
49 Li XS, Lovell JF, Yoon J, et al. Clinical development and potential of photothermal and photodynamic therapies for cancer[J]. Nat Rev Clin Oncol, 2020, 17(11): 657-674.
50 李永晖. 基于卟啉及七甲川花菁染料的纳米粒子用于肿瘤的PDT和PTT联合治疗[D]. 天津: 天津大学, 2021.
Li YH. Nanoparticles based on porphyrin and heptamethine cyanine dye are used in PDT and PTT combined therapy of tumors[D]. Tianjin: Tianjin University, 2021.
51 陈巧. 基于碳点复合纳米体系的构建及其在肿瘤诊疗体系的工作研究[D]. 重庆: 重庆邮电大学, 2020.
Chen Q. Construction of carbon point composite nanosystem and its application in cancer diagnosis and treatment system[D]. Chongqing: Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, 2020.
[1] Mengying Cao,Rui Shi,Hanwen Yu,Chengcheng Liu. Progress in research on the application of remote-sensing imaging technologies in the diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2025, 52(1): 107-116.
[2] Sixin Jiang,Wenjin Shi,Xiaobo Luo,Qianming Chen. Research progress of the diagnosis and treatment of viral stomatitis in children [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(5): 519-531.
[3] Siyue Lai, Bolei Li, Lei Cheng. Research progress on photothermal therapy-assisted root canal irrigation in the treatment of apical periodontitis [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(5): 565-571.
[4] Yu Ma, Yu Zuo, Jianhua Liu. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and systemic antimicrobial drug as an adjunct treatment for periodontitis [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(4): 406-415.
[5] Yu Zhang,Zhiyu Jia,Huifang Tang,Zhiyong Zhang,Wenjing Li,Songbo Tian. Diagnosis and treatment progress and clinical characteristics of immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(2): 193-200.
[6] Liu Shiyi, Chen Zhong, Zhang Suxin. Progress in research into programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 immunotherapy strategies in human papillomavirus-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(1): 21-27.
[7] Fu Yu, He Wei, Huang Lan. Ferroptosis and its implication in oral diseases [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2024, 51(1): 36-44.
[8] Li Yijun, Xu Ziang, Li Yi.. Research progress on the sentinel lymph nodes in the detection of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(5): 521-527.
[9] Ji Xiao,Zhang Lan,Huang Dingming.. Diagnosis and treatment of odontogenic and non-odontogenic maxillary sinusitis [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(5): 566-572.
[10] Jiang Yueying,He Yutian,Li Ting,Zhou Ronghui.. Research progress on the application of near infrared fluorescence probe in the diagnosis of oral cancer [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(4): 407-413.
[11] Fan Lin,Sun Jiang.. Application of microneedles in stomatology [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(4): 472-478.
[12] Xia Weiyao,Luo Yankun,Jia Zhonglin. Review of the precise diagnosis and genetic etiology of Pierre Robin sequence [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(3): 287-292.
[13] Lin Huiping,Xu Ting,Lin Jun.. Research progress on artificial intelligence techniques in diagnosis of oral cancer and potentially malignant disorders [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(2): 138-145.
[14] Wang Taiping,Shi Xinglian,Li Zhezhen,Liu Mei,Jiang Jianhong. Analysis of psychological factors and intervention in patients with oral cancer [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(2): 203-209.
[15] Qin Yichun,Tan Xuelian,Huang Dingming.. Clinical research progress on glandular odontogenic cyst [J]. Int J Stomatol, 2023, 50(1): 100-107.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!