Recent advances in fluorescent 0D carbon nanomaterials as artificial nanoenzymes for optical sensing applications

The new member of carbon nanomaterial family, 0D carbon nanomaterials attracted the attention of the scientific family recently. The 0D carbon nanomaterials which include carbon dots, graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, etc. and possess some outstanding optical and electronic properties. There are various reports on nanomaterials as artificial nanoenzyme for colorimetric detection of biomolecules and toxic metal ions. Artificial nanoenzyme possess some extraordinary properties compared to natural nanoenzyme due to their long self-life, cost-effectiveness, high surface area, size controllable, and less environment-sensitive nature. These nanoenzyme possess some active sites for the oxidation of H2O2 in the presence of peroxidase-like substrates such as TMB, ABTS, OPD, etc. There is a need for a review to compile the optical properties of modified carbon dots as artificial nanoenzyme to detect biomolecules. This mini-review is addressed in that direction and exclusively focused on the synthesis, characterization, and optical sensors for detecting biomolecules and some toxic ions in the real sample. The detailed mechanistic insight into these colorimetric biosensors is also highlighted herewith. I think this review article paves the way for new possible strategies for tuning and enhancing the peroxidase-like catalytic activity of these carbon dots-based artificial nanoenzyme in near future.