Biomedical applications of fluorescent lignin derived quantum dots: An emerging arena

Lignin, a sustainable and inexpensive material is becoming a popular candidate in research because of its potential to be converted into value-added products. Due to the fluorescence and biocompatibility, lignin-based carbon quantum dots (LCQDs) are regarded as a promising option for applications like drug delivery, diagnostics, imaging, and photodynamic treatment. This review tries to give an outline of the fluorescence properties of LCQDs and their origin. Different proposals that are used to explain the fluorescence ability of LCQDs are discussed in a comprehensive way focusing on the advantages and disadvantages. Applications of LCQDs in the biomedical field, their properties, and the limiting factors to the development of commercial biomedical products are discussed. This review tries to motivate researchers in this field to develop new approaches and techniques for the utilization of LCQDs in a highly sophisticated way.