Yunxiao Zhu, Qiaowen Lei, Xinru Nan, Li Fu, Qitong Huang, H. Zhang, Xiaofeng Lin
The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance threatens global health, with projections indicating millions of deaths annually by 2050 without effective countermeasures. This urgent scenario demands innovative antibacterial approaches. Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as a promising alternative due to their potent antimicrobial properties and excellent biocompatibility. They achieve over 95 % inhibition against common pathogens such as Escherichia coli and S. aureus even at concentrations as low as 8 μg/mL. This review systematically examines recent advances in CD-based antibacterial strategies, focusing on their multifaceted mechanisms including membrane disruption, reactive oxygen species generation, and intracellular biomolecule interference. Key structural characteristics such as particle size, surface charge, and functionalization significantly modulate their antibacterial efficacy. Current applications span medical dressings, food packaging, and environmental remediation, demonstrating remarkable versatility. However, further optimization of structural properties and functional performance remains essential. Continued research is expected to establish CDs as crucial components in global antimicrobial strategies, contributing substantially to public health security.