Abstract

Fluorescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted increasing interest in cancer bioimaging due to their stable photoluminescence (PL), high stability, low cytotoxicity, and good biocompatibility. In this review, we present the synthesis and chemical modification of GQDs firstly, and then introduce their unique physical, chemical, and biological properties like the absorption, PL, and cytotoxicity of GQDs. Finally and most importantly, the recent applications of GQDs in cancer bioimaging are demonstrated in detail, in which we focus on the biofunctionalization of GQDs for specific cancer cell imaging and real-time molecular imaging in live cells. We expect this work would provide valuable guides on the synthesis and modification of GQDs with adjustable properties for various biomedical applications in the future.

Keywords: Graphene quantum dots, photoluminescence, cytotoxicity, bioimaging, fluorescent graphene quantum.