Carbon dots: A novel trend in pharmaceutical applications.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs, C-dots, or CDs), are generally small carbon nanoparticles having a size less than 10nm. Carbon dots (CDs) were accidentally discovered during the purification of single-walled carbon nanotubes through preparative electrophoresis in 2004. Carbon is an organic material having poor water solubility that emits less fluorescence. However, CDs have good aqueous solubility and excellent fluorescent property, hence more attention has been given to the synthesis of CDs and their applications in chemistry and allied sciences. CDs being easily accessible for in-house synthesis, simpler fabrication as per compendial requirements are wisely accepted. In addition, since CDs are biocompatible, of low toxicity, and of biodegradable nature, they appear as a promising tool for the health care sector. Furthermore, owing to their capabilities of expressing significant interaction with biological materials, and their excellent photoluminescence (PL), CDs have been emerging as novel pioneered nanoparticles useful for pharmaceutical and theranostic applications. Also, CDs are more eco-friendly in synthesis and therefore can be favorably consumed as alternatives in the further development of biological, environmental, and food areas. A massive study has been performed dealing with different approaches which are adopted for CDs synthesis and their applications as, filters for the separation of pollutants from polluted water, food safety, toxicological studies, and optical properties, etc. While still less emphasis is given on the applications of CDs in pharmaceuticals like for sustained and targeted drug delivery systems, theranostic study, etc. Hence, in the present review, we are exploring CQDs as a boon to pharmaceutical concerns.

Pharmaceutical applications of silk sericin.

Silk sericin is an applicable protein extracted from dried silk cocoons, which are composed of a polar amino acid chain with hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino functional groups. It anticipated that the functionality present in sericin provides excellent assets such as stability, release-modifying capacity, interaction with molecules, etc. It has various significant properties like biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, hydrophilicity, etc. Besides, sericin exhibits the capability to form gels, nanoparticles, micro-particles, and keen bioengineered materials. Sericin also offers stability by strong affinity to the drug substance/molecules. Currently, sericin reconnoitered for a variety of pharmaceutical applications including solubility enhancement, release modifications, formulation stabilization, and as a drug carrier, etc. The focus of the review is to deliver an impression of the sericin based pharmaceutical applications including nanocrystal and nanoparticle stabilization, inhibition of devitrification, solubility enhancement, controlled and the extended-release formulation, targeted drug delivery, wound healing applications and as a suitable carrier.