Abstract

A. Nazeer*, F. Ahmad, S. Ahmad

ABSTRACT

Interest in using herbal medicine as a precursor for the synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) in growing fast with their unique properties and applications in various fields. There has been an extensive increase in the selection of raw materials for synthesizing carbon dots, and herbal medicine is receiving more attention as a precursor. Herbal medicine-derived carbon dots (HM-CDs) are described as a relatively recent addition to the family of carbon dots, indicating that their use is gaining popularity in the past decade. HM-CDs are noted for their potential in theranostics, which refers to the combination of diagnostics and therapeutics in one system. The unique aspect mentioned is that they can achieve theranostic functions without the need for drug loading. Despite growing interest in HM-CDs there is still a lack of systematic examination of the relevant developments and research results. This suggests a need for comprehensive analysis and consolidation of the existing knowledge. Main objective of this chapter is to provide an overview of the origin and history of HM-CDs, emphasizing their functional properties in medical diagnosis and treatment. An attempt has been made to categorize herbal medicine precursors and analyse the primary methods of synthesizing HM-CDs and their key characteristics. The applications of HM-CDs include medical therapeutics, ion, and molecular detection, bioimaging, and pH sensing which suggests that HM-CDs have a wide range of potential applications in the medical field. Finally, the passage indicates that it will discuss the crucial challenges and prospects for HM-CDs, suggesting that there are ongoing research and development opportunities in this area.