Citation: Xinjuan He, Zishuo Wang, Boyang Wang, Yongqiang Zhang, Xiaokai Xu, Huijuan Cai, Siyu Lu. Recent advances in carbon dots imaging at the subcellular level: Synthesis strategies, properties, and organelle imaging[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(2): 111957. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111957 shu

Recent advances in carbon dots imaging at the subcellular level: Synthesis strategies, properties, and organelle imaging

Xinjuan He ^a ,
Zishuo Wang ^a ,
Boyang Wang ^b ,
Yongqiang Zhang ^b ,
Xiaokai Xu ^{c, *,} ,
Huijuan Cai ^{a, *,} ,
Siyu Lu ^{b, *,}

a.
Henan Institute of Advanced Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
b.
College of Chemistry, Pingyuan Laboratory, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
c.
College of Chemistry and Phamaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China

xxk@qau.edu.cn

caihj10@zzu.edu.cn

sylu2013@zzu.edu.cn

Received Date: 31 March 2025
Revised Date: 30 September 2025
Accepted Date: 13 October 2025
Available Online: 14 October 2025

Figures(3)

Carbon dots (CDs), a class of emerging fluorescent nanomaterials, have garnered notable attention in the biomedical field owing to their outstanding photoluminescence properties, excellent biocompatibility, and ease of synthesis and functionalization. Recently, numerous CDs have been developed that allow precise subcellular localization through surface modifications or covalent conjugation with targeting ligands such as peptides, small molecules, Golgi-specific agents, and cell membrane-specific agents. This review begins with an overview of the synthesis strategies of CDs, highlighting their exceptional optical properties, stability, biocompatibility, and significance for subcellular imaging. The mechanisms by which CDs target specific organelles, including the nucleus, mitochondrion, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, and cell membrane, are discussed. These mechanisms include specific targeting molecules, pH-sensitive targeting, charge-driven interactions, and hydrophobic and hydrophilic dynamics. Furthermore, we summarize their applications in subcellular imaging, such as the long-term dynamic monitoring of organelles, sensing, reactive oxygen species scavenging, and therapy. By presenting a comprehensive review of CDs in subcellular imaging, we aim to pave the way for further development of CDs in bioimaging and related biomedical applications.
- Carbon dots,
- Organelle targeting,
- Subcellular imaging,
- Photoluminescence,
- Mechanisms
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