On February 27, 2026, the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine held the next meeting of the general academic interdisciplinary seminar in the field of natural sciences "Topical Issues of Physico-Chemical and Mathematical Biology". The report "Synthesis, Properties, and Biomedical Applications of Carbon Quantum Dots and Carbon Nanohybrids" was presented by the head of the Department of Nanophysics of Condensed Matter at the Institute of High Technologies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi.
In his opening remarks, the seminar leader, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine, head of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of this Institute, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin noted that the focus of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi includes, in particular, the development—for the needs of cell biology and nanobiotechnology—of functionalized carbon nanohybrids and silicon nanoparticles with high quantum luminescence yield, as well as the creation of semiconductor sensors (biological, chemical, radiation). He also informed that the speaker worked as a visiting professor at the École Centrale de Lyon (Lyon, France), the National Institute of Applied Sciences (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Lyon – INSA; Lyon, France), the Technical University of Munich (Technische Universität München – TUM; Munich, Germany), and the Helmholtz Association’s Helmholtz Center for Materials and Energy (formerly Hahn-Meitner Institute; Berlin, Germany), and lectured at universities in Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, China, and Poland.
Next, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi delivered an interdisciplinary scientific report. In his presentation, he analyzed 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 synthesis of literature data as well as results of his own ongoing experimental studies at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. The speaker emphasized that 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. Thanks to their unique combination of structural, optical, and chemical properties, these materials attract great attention as promising nanoplatforms for cell biology, biomedicine, sensing, energy, and photocatalysis.
The scientist considered the classification of carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and carbonized polymer dots, etc.). He thoroughly analyzed the main approaches to their synthesis, including "green" methods using biomolecules, medicinal plants, and agricultural waste (fruits, vegetables, plant leaves, etc.). Special attention was paid to simple and scalable methods for obtaining water-soluble and fluorescent carbon dots with a high quantum luminescence yield, which in some systems exceeds 90%. The speaker described the synthesis of ultrafine carbon nanohybrids doped with Gd³⁺ ions and their structural-chemical specifics. It turned out that surface functionalization (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, and amide groups), particle size, and the structure of the carbon core significantly affect photoluminescent properties as well as interaction with biological environments and biocompatibility.
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi examined the influence of the environment, solvent polarity, and nanoparticle morphology on the spectral characteristics of emission. The scientist demonstrated that most carbon dots do not exhibit cytotoxicity at moderate concentrations, and the observed effects at high doses are mainly cytostatic. He cited biochemical and hematological studies on animal models indicating overall biocompatibility of the materials and, under certain conditions, possible protective effects of carbon dots on the liver.
A significant part of the report was devoted to purely biomedical applications of carbon dots: bioimaging, magnetic resonance tomography using Gd³⁺-doped systems, photodynamic and photothermal therapy, photoacoustic tumor therapy. The ability of carbon dots to modulate reactive oxygen species levels was demonstrated, enabling both antioxidant and prooxidant effects depending on conditions and light activation. The prospects of using these materials for targeted drug delivery and combined antitumor therapy with increased survival of animal models were shown.
Besides biomedicine, the lecture covered the application of carbon dots in sensor systems for detecting heavy metal ions (using Fe³⁺ ions as an example), explosives, and pH changes in the environment. Mechanisms of fluorescence quenching, aggregation, FRET effect, and their role in enhancing sensor sensitivity and selectivity were described.
According to the speaker, carbon nanohybrids and carbon quantum dots can be considered an extremely promising class of functional nanomaterials for biomedicine, theranostics, energy, sensing, and catalysis.
Questions to the speaker and discussion of the report were raised by, among others:
- Leading researcher of the Department of Scientific-Informational and Innovative Research of the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Olha Matyshevska;
- Seminar leader, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine, head of the Muscle Biochemistry Department of this Institute, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin;
- Head of the Cell Signaling Mechanisms Department of the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Lyudmyla Drobot;
- Researcher of the Molecular Biology Department of the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine, PhD Olha Rudnytska.
In his concluding remarks, seminar leader, academician of the NAS of Ukraine Serhiy Kosterin thanked Professor Valeriy Skryshevskyi for the interesting and substantive interdisciplinary report and wished him further creative success.
The final highlight of the meeting was a Chopin piece performed by student of the National Music Academy of Ukraine Yulia Yermolova.
P.S. The next seminar meeting is scheduled for March 20, 2026. The speaker will be the well-known Ukrainian photographic artist Ihor Chervonenko.
According to information from the Institute of Biochemistry named after O.V. Palladin of the NAS of Ukraine
Photo author – Volodymyr Koshovenko
