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Jyotsna et al.
1 Introduction
Nanoscience, together with biotechnology, is referred to as ‘Nanobiotechnology,’
which has shown remarkable applications in different fields of biological sciences.
Nanomaterials are classified as materials having a particle size less than 100 nm
in one dimension [1]. Nanomaterials with well-controlled size, surface distribution
and surface modification using various chemicals and bioconjugate have applications in biomedical science. The nanomaterials derived from silica, noble metals,
metal oxides, polymers are more attractive in various applications. Nanomaterials
such as gold nanoparticles, quantum clusters, carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds,
fullerenes are most importantly used in fundamental research, device technology, and
biomedical technology. They can incorporate multiple functional groups, targeting
biomolecules, drugs, and genes, which offers the detection of subcellular organelles
and biomolecules’ structures and functioning.
Nanotechnology has found its applications in industrial sectors like communication, advanced materials, and biomedicine [2, 3]. Advanced nanomaterials with high
performance, high optical, electronic, and structural properties were used to develop
nanodevices that are used in nanomedicine applications [4]. These nanomedicines
have been successfully applied in preclinical, translational, and clinical research,
enabling them to diagnose and treat treatment methods in humans [5, 6]. Recently, a
vast application of nanomaterials in drug delivery, biomarkers for diagnosis, biosensors, cancer chemotherapy, therapeutics, and molecular imaging has been studied.
Carbon is a versatile element, and for over 6000 years, carbon is used to reduce
metal oxides. The arrangement of atoms and forms of carbon provides enhanced
functionalities in their structures and electronic properties [7–13]. A wide variety of
carbon-based nanomaterials are available, such as carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds,
fullerenes, nanofibers, etc. used in biomedical applications, as shown in Fig. 1.
Recently, another attractive biomaterial invented from the carbon family is GQDs,
a zero-dimensional graphene sheet with a dimension less than 100 nm with 3–10
layers [14, 15]. These GQDs have excellent quantum confinement, making them a
potential tool for photoluminescence than other fluorescent dyes [16]. Considering
the properties mentioned above, the current study aims to provide a broad snapshot
of the recent trends in carbon-based nanomaterials’ applications in the biomedical
field.
2 Nanodiamonds
Nanodiamonds (NDs) or diamond nanoparticles are particles with a size less than
1 nm. Their structural, chemical, and biological properties make them suitable
for high scientific and technological applications (Fig. 2). Based on the particle
Jyotsna et al.
1 Introduction
Nanoscience, together with biotechnology, is referred to as ‘Nanobiotechnology,’
which has shown remarkable applications in different fields of biological sciences.
Nanomaterials are classified as materials having a particle size less than 100 nm
in one dimension [1]. Nanomaterials with well-controlled size, surface distribution
and surface modification using various chemicals and bioconjugate have applications in biomedical science. The nanomaterials derived from silica, noble metals,
metal oxides, polymers are more attractive in various applications. Nanomaterials
such as gold nanoparticles, quantum clusters, carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds,
fullerenes are most importantly used in fundamental research, device technology, and
biomedical technology. They can incorporate multiple functional groups, targeting
biomolecules, drugs, and genes, which offers the detection of subcellular organelles
and biomolecules’ structures and functioning.
Nanotechnology has found its applications in industrial sectors like communication, advanced materials, and biomedicine [2, 3]. Advanced nanomaterials with high
performance, high optical, electronic, and structural properties were used to develop
nanodevices that are used in nanomedicine applications [4]. These nanomedicines
have been successfully applied in preclinical, translational, and clinical research,
enabling them to diagnose and treat treatment methods in humans [5, 6]. Recently, a
vast application of nanomaterials in drug delivery, biomarkers for diagnosis, biosensors, cancer chemotherapy, therapeutics, and molecular imaging has been studied.
Carbon is a versatile element, and for over 6000 years, carbon is used to reduce
metal oxides. The arrangement of atoms and forms of carbon provides enhanced
functionalities in their structures and electronic properties [7–13]. A wide variety of
carbon-based nanomaterials are available, such as carbon nanotubes, nanodiamonds,
fullerenes, nanofibers, etc. used in biomedical applications, as shown in Fig. 1.
Recently, another attractive biomaterial invented from the carbon family is GQDs,
a zero-dimensional graphene sheet with a dimension less than 100 nm with 3–10
layers [14, 15]. These GQDs have excellent quantum confinement, making them a
potential tool for photoluminescence than other fluorescent dyes [16]. Considering
the properties mentioned above, the current study aims to provide a broad snapshot
of the recent trends in carbon-based nanomaterials’ applications in the biomedical
field.
2 Nanodiamonds
Nanodiamonds (NDs) or diamond nanoparticles are particles with a size less than
1 nm. Their structural, chemical, and biological properties make them suitable
for high scientific and technological applications (Fig. 2). Based on the particle