Shining luminescent graphene quantum dots: Synthesis, physicochemical properties, and biomedical applications

Abstract Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), among the graphene-based materials, possess distinct physical and electrochemical properties, including nano size, large surface-to-volume ratio, and low cytotoxicity, and have become a promising alternative in the field of biomedicine. Moreover, the integration of specific optical properties, that is, tunable photoluminescence and up-photoluminescence, has led to remarkable bioapplications in bioimaging, biosensors, and phototherapy. In this review, we concentrate on the process of synthesis, optical properties, and the biomedical applications of GQDs.