Carbon nanoparticles neutralize carbon dioxide (CO₂) in cytotoxicity: Potent carbon emission induced resistance to anticancer nanomedicine and antibiotics

Excessive carbon emissions, especially CO₂ release, have been a global concern. Few studies applied nanotechnology to relieve the ecotoxicity of CO₂. Here, we applied carbon dots (CDs) to neutralize the CO₂. We found CO₂ induced the aggregation of CDs, which is of significance for CDs in enhanced fluorescence intensity but decreased CDs function in nanozyme activity, and reduced CDs toxicity to bacteria and cancer cells. Our data suggest the concern of CO₂ release in global health in CDs mediated anticancer drug delivery and antibiotics resistance. However, enhanced fluorescence in cells which can be applied for bioimaging or CO₂ sensing as simulated investigation by static charged attraction of positively charged CDs with negatively charged soluble HCO₃^-. Thus, CO₂ abrogates the nanomedicine efficacy in cancer cells and antibacterial and may induce drug resistance for patients undergoing chemotherapy or antibiotics therapy. To overcome the resistance, we may apply the CDs for a neutralization of CO₂ for impact on anticancer nanomedicine and antibiotics and reducing the ecotoxicity in biological systems.