Carbon dot as fluorescence sensor for glutathione in human serum samples: a review

Abstract

In recent times, glutathione (GSH) has emerged as a crucial player in various cellular functions and is implicated in human pathologies. The creation of simple and highly responsive sensors capable of identifying GSH would be immensely valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms. Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted considerable interest owing to their remarkable fluorescence capabilities, excellent compatibility with biological systems, and ease of production. Consequently, numerous research endeavors have focused on developing highly efficient CD probes for the rapid and precise detection of GSH. However, a comprehensive overview addressing the effective synthesis of CDs and their practical utility in GSH detection is still needed to further enhance the widespread application of CDs. In this context, we present, for the first time, a detailed introduction to GSH and CDs. Following this, we classify the synthetic methods of CDs. Additionally, considering various sensing categories, we classify CD fluorescent probes into single emission probes of CDs, ratiometric sensing probes of CDs, and visual detection of CDs. Furthermore, we highlight existing shortcomings and potential avenues for future research to offer valuable guidance in the preparation of commendable CDs and the detection of GSH.