Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds

The increasing prevalence of toxic compounds in food, agriculture, and the environment presents a critical challenge to public health and ecological sustainability. Carbon nanodots (CNDs), with their excellent photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization, have emerged as highly...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Duyen H. H. Nguyen, Arjun Muthu, Tamer Elsakhawy, Mohamed H. Sheta, Neama Abdalla, Hassan El-Ramady, József Prokisch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Nanomaterials
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/725
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849711909115265024
author Duyen H. H. Nguyen
Arjun Muthu
Tamer Elsakhawy
Mohamed H. Sheta
Neama Abdalla
Hassan El-Ramady
József Prokisch
author_facet Duyen H. H. Nguyen
Arjun Muthu
Tamer Elsakhawy
Mohamed H. Sheta
Neama Abdalla
Hassan El-Ramady
József Prokisch
author_sort Duyen H. H. Nguyen
collection DOAJ
description The increasing prevalence of toxic compounds in food, agriculture, and the environment presents a critical challenge to public health and ecological sustainability. Carbon nanodots (CNDs), with their excellent photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization, have emerged as highly promising materials for developing advanced sensors that target hazardous substances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, functionalization, and sensing mechanisms of CND-based sensors, highlighting their versatile application in detecting toxic compounds such as heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and emerging contaminants. The article outlines recent advancements in fluorescence, electrochemical, and colorimetric detection strategies and presents key case studies that illustrate the successful application of CNDs in real-world monitoring scenarios. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges associated with reproducibility, scalability, selectivity, and sensor stability and explores future directions for integrating CNDs with smart and sustainable technologies. This review emphasizes the transformative potential of CNDs in achieving rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly toxin detection solutions across multiple domains.
format Article
id doaj-art-582c727c75864585b808ebe5a2ea14ca
institution DOAJ
issn 2079-4991
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-582c727c75864585b808ebe5a2ea14ca2025-08-20T03:14:29ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-05-01151072510.3390/nano15100725Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic CompoundsDuyen H. H. Nguyen0Arjun Muthu1Tamer Elsakhawy2Mohamed H. Sheta3Neama Abdalla4Hassan El-Ramady5József Prokisch6Institute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Street, 4032 Debrecen, HungaryDoctoral School of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, HungaryAgricultural Microbiology Research Department, Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute (SWERI), Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Giza 12619, EgyptSoils and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, EgyptPlant Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Centre, 33 El Buhouth St., Dokki, Giza 12622, EgyptSoil and Water Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, EgyptInstitute of Animal Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Biotechnology and Nature Conservation, University of Debrecen, 138 Böszörményi Street, 4032 Debrecen, HungaryThe increasing prevalence of toxic compounds in food, agriculture, and the environment presents a critical challenge to public health and ecological sustainability. Carbon nanodots (CNDs), with their excellent photoluminescence, biocompatibility, and ease of functionalization, have emerged as highly promising materials for developing advanced sensors that target hazardous substances. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis, functionalization, and sensing mechanisms of CND-based sensors, highlighting their versatile application in detecting toxic compounds such as heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins, and emerging contaminants. The article outlines recent advancements in fluorescence, electrochemical, and colorimetric detection strategies and presents key case studies that illustrate the successful application of CNDs in real-world monitoring scenarios. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges associated with reproducibility, scalability, selectivity, and sensor stability and explores future directions for integrating CNDs with smart and sustainable technologies. This review emphasizes the transformative potential of CNDs in achieving rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly toxin detection solutions across multiple domains.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/725rapid detectioncarbon dotsprobesheavy metalcontaminantsultrasensitive sensor devices
spellingShingle Duyen H. H. Nguyen
Arjun Muthu
Tamer Elsakhawy
Mohamed H. Sheta
Neama Abdalla
Hassan El-Ramady
József Prokisch
Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
Nanomaterials
rapid detection
carbon dots
probes
heavy metal
contaminants
ultrasensitive sensor devices
title Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
title_full Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
title_fullStr Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
title_full_unstemmed Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
title_short Carbon Nanodots-Based Sensors: A Promising Tool for Detecting and Monitoring Toxic Compounds
title_sort carbon nanodots based sensors a promising tool for detecting and monitoring toxic compounds
topic rapid detection
carbon dots
probes
heavy metal
contaminants
ultrasensitive sensor devices
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/10/725
work_keys_str_mv AT duyenhhnguyen carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT arjunmuthu carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT tamerelsakhawy carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT mohamedhsheta carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT neamaabdalla carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT hassanelramady carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds
AT jozsefprokisch carbonnanodotsbasedsensorsapromisingtoolfordetectingandmonitoringtoxiccompounds