Advanced in carbon dot-based hydrogels for antibacterial, detection and adsorption

Hydrogels are biocompatible carriers that can maintain the original properties of embedded materials. Carbon dots (CDs) are multifunctional nanomaterials with antibacterial properties, fluorescence stability, and adsorption performance that are widely used in fields such as biomedicine, environmental applications, food, and agriculture. CD-based hydrogels combine the merits of both materials by improving the mechanical, self-healing, and adsorption properties of hydrogels, while also giving them new antibacterial and fluorescent properties. Moreover, CD-based hydrogels have greater fluorescence stability, which prevents fluorescence quenching caused by CD aggregation. This review introduces methods to prepare CD-based hydrogels and focuses on the antibacterial, sensing, and adsorption properties of CD-based hydrogels. It also provides a detailed explanation of the antibacterial, sensing, and adsorption mechanisms of CD-based hydrogels and summarizes their antibacterial, detection, and adsorption applications. Finally, the future perspective of CD-based hydrogels is briefly discussed.