Graphitic carbon nitride-based materials: applications in medical diagnostics, therapeutics, and combined cancer therapies

Abstract

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has emerged as a new type of two-dimensional conjugated polymer. Ever since the pioneering work on photocatalytic water splitting under visible-light illumination in 2009, g-C₃N₄ has revealed wide-ranging application possibilities across numerous domains such as photoelectrocatalysis, photodegradation, energy-related technologies, environmental cleanup, and sensing. As science and technology have advanced, the remarkable photoelectrical properties and biocompatibility of g-C₃N₄ have drawn increasing attention. In recent times, the employment of g-C₃N₄ within the biomedical domain has garnered considerable interest. This review comprehensively compiles the strategies for the synthesis and modification of g-C₃N₄-based materials, highlighting the consequences of six unique modification techniques. Additionally, the characterization and properties of these materials are presented. This review is dedicated to exploring the up-to-date developments of g-C₃N₄-based materials applied in the biomedical field, with particular emphasis on their emerging roles in diagnostic imaging, disease treatment, disease detection, and combination therapies for cancer. Furthermore, this review presents a thorough discussion of the assessments of the biosafety and toxicity of g-C₃N₄-based substances. Simultaneously, it explores the present challenges and forthcoming trends in this area of study.