On February 27, 2026, the 30th meeting of the interdisciplinary general academic seminar in the field of natural sciences "Current Issues of Physical-Chemical and Mathematical Biology" will be held at the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.
The report "Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications of Carbon Quantum Dots and Carbon Nanohybrids" will be presented by the head of the Department of Nanophysics of Condensed Matter at the Educational and Scientific Institute of High Technologies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi.
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi. Photo: knu.ua
Start of the event – at 10:30 AM (approximate duration – 2 hours).
Address: Kyiv, 9 Leontovycha St., Assembly Hall of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.
Link for remote participation in the seminar: https://meet.google.com/hoj-qwho-any
ATTENTION! In case of an air raid alert, the shelter in the building of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine (54 Volodymyrska St.) is operational.
Source: www.advancedsciencenews.com
More about the report
The report will be dedicated to analyzing the current state of research in the field of synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications of carbon quantum dots (Carbon Dots, CDs) and carbon nanohybrids based on a summary of literature data as well as experimental research results ongoing at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Carbon dots are zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials with typical sizes of 2–10 nm, consisting of a dense core based on graphene-like fragments and a surface functionalized with various oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups. Due to their unique combination of structural, optical, and chemical properties, these materials attract significant attention as promising platforms for biomedicine, sensing, energy, and photocatalysis.
The speaker will consider the classification of carbon dots, including graphene quantum dots, carbon quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and carbonized polymer dots. The main synthesis approaches will be thoroughly analyzed – including "green" methods using biomolecules, medicinal plants, and agricultural waste (fruits, vegetables, plant leaves, etc.). Special attention will be given to simple and scalable methods for obtaining water-soluble and fluorescent carbon dots with high quantum yield of luminescence, which in some systems exceeds 90%.
The report will describe the synthesis of ultrasmall carbon nanohybrids doped with Gd³⁺ ions and their structural-chemical specifics. It will be shown that surface functionalization (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, and amide groups), particle size, and the structure of the carbon core significantly affect photoluminescent properties, interaction with biological environments, and biocompatibility. The scientist will separately consider the influence of the environment, solvent polarity, and nanoparticle morphology on the spectral characteristics of emission.
The presentation will provide a detailed analysis of in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies. The author will demonstrate that most carbon dots do not exhibit cytotoxicity at moderate concentrations, and the observed effects at high doses are mainly cytostatic. Seminar participants will be able to familiarize themselves with biochemical and hematological data from animal models indicating overall biocompatibility of the materials and possible protective effects on the liver under certain conditions.
A significant part of the work is devoted to biomedical applications of carbon dots: bioimaging, magnetic resonance imaging using Gd³⁺-doped systems, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, photoacoustic tumor therapy. Studies have demonstrated the ability of carbon dots to modulate reactive oxygen species levels. This allows for both antioxidant and prooxidant effects depending on conditions and light activation. The materials are promising for targeted drug delivery and combined anticancer therapy with improved survival in animal models.
Besides biomedicine, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi will discuss the use of carbon dots in sensor systems for detecting heavy metal ions (using Fe³⁺ ions as an example), explosives, pH changes, and will describe mechanisms of fluorescence quenching, aggregation, FRET effect, and their role in enhancing sensor sensitivity and selectivity.
In summary: carbon nanohybrids and carbon quantum dots are an extremely promising class of functional nanomaterials for theranostics, energy, sensing, and catalysis.
Reference
The interdisciplinary general academic seminar in the field of natural sciences "Current Issues of Physical-Chemical and Mathematical Biology" was established at the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine in accordance with the Resolution of the Presidium of the NAS of Ukraine No. 134 dated March 22, 2023.
The purpose of the seminar is the periodic hearing and discussion of scientific reports dedicated to the application of modern experimental and theoretical methods of chemistry, physics, and mathematics to solve urgent problems of modern biology, particularly in the fields of biochemistry, biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, bioenergetics, genomics, medical biology, pharmacology, nanobiotechnology, systems and synthetic biology.
The seminar is necessitated by the progress of such "cross-cutting" sciences and scientific directions as biophysical chemistry, physical biochemistry, chemical biophysics, biochemical physics, physical-chemical biology, physics of living systems, mathematical biophysics, theoretical biology, bioinformatics, artificial intelligence in biology and medicine, etc.
Seminar meetings are held monthly in the Assembly Hall of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine (Kyiv, 9 Leontovycha St.). Participation is also possible online. The "doors" of the seminar are open not only to scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and employees and students of Ukrainian higher education institutions but also to all interested parties.
The next seminar meeting is scheduled for March 2026.
Proposals for presentations (abstract length – 1–2 pages) please send to the email addresses of the seminar leader – Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine, Head of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of this Institute, Academician Serhiy Oleksiyovych Kosterin: kinet@biochem.kiev.ua; kosterin.serg@gmail.com.
Follow seminar announcements also on the website of the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine.
Video recordings of previous seminars are available on the Institute's YouTube channel.
Information provided by the O.V. Palladin Institute of Biochemistry of the NAS of Ukraine