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Advanced Neurology Graphene quantum dots approach in AD

resulting from a myriad of pathological changes occurring the diagnosis and treatment of CNS disorders, including
daily, including the formation of senile plaques composed multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and AD. 12,13 GQDs
of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles are particularly attractive due to their fluorescence-
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(NFTs) of the central nervous system (CNS), which emitting capabilities, a nanoscale size that facilitates blood–
leads to significant neurodegeneration. According to the brain barrier penetration, chemical stability, solubility, and
Alzheimer’s Association, AD accounts for approximately ease of synthesis. They can also penetrate the cell nucleus
60 – 80% of all dementia cases and affects 10 – 30% of and interact with DNA. Unlike conventional organic dyes,
people aged above 65. Research suggests that by 2040, the which are limited by narrow spectral ranges and shorter
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number of patients suffering from AD or dementia-related lifetimes, GQDs can emit across the entire spectrum,
diseases is expected to increase yearly from 2.4 million providing brighter and more durable fluorescence. 14
to 5.8 million. From 1990 to 2019, a study analyzing This review focuses on discussing the present frontiers
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the global burden of disease revealed a striking increase of quantum dots (QDs) application in AD intervention.
of 160.84% in the incidence of AD and 147.95% in its It highlights the recent developments in the use of GQDs
prevalence. In addition, both men and women exhibited as novel drug carriers and diagnostic tools. In addition,
a steady increase in age-standardized rates, with women the review addresses challenges related to the potential
showing higher age-standardized rates in the categories of neurotoxic effects of GQDs and offers suggestions and
incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted strategies to overcome these challenges, aiming to enhance
life-years. Uncontrolled smoking was the primary driving the safety and efficacy of QD-based therapies in AD.
factor for AD burden among men, while obesity was the
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main contributing factor for women. With approximately 2. Properties of QDs
50 million AD patients worldwide, the aging population QDs are man-made semiconductor nanoparticles whose
is expected to triple this number by 2050, increasing electronic and optical features are influenced by their shape
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the risk of impairment, financial burden, and medical and size. These characteristics have received significant
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expenses. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression, interest over the past 20 years due to their basic characteristics
heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and AD have depending on the size of the QDs. Thus, the fundamental
been linked through clinical and molecular research properties of QDs can be achieved by altering their size at
findings. The relationship between AD and diabetes, as a steady composition. The structure of QDs presents a
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well as other diseases, stems from disturbances in several semiconductor core enclosed in a separate shell material that
overlapping biological systems. The association between serves as a surface passivation layer. Their diameters span a
diabetes and AD is significant, as diabetes patients remarkably small range of 2 – 10 nm, roughly corresponding
exhibit a 1.25 – 1.9-fold rise in cognitive dysfunction. to 10 – 50 atomic diameters. The shell and core of QDs
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The socioeconomic impact of the disease on patients, have varying dimensions and forms, and their properties
families, and caregivers makes it extremely worrying. The can be adjusted to suit specific needs. For instance, the
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combination of protracted and untreatable pathologies, optoelectronic properties of spherical QDs differ from those
along with insufficient disease-modifying therapies, poses of rod- or disk-shaped QDs. The core of a QD is responsible
a significant strain on the economies of different countries. for its basic electrical and optical properties, while the shell
The economic burden of AD and its comorbid pathologies enhances stability, solubility, and biocompatibility. This
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had an estimated cost of US$2.8 trillion in 2019 and is core consists of a semiconductor material, typically derived
expected to reach US$16.9 trillion by 2050. Low- and from various elements of the periodic table, including
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middle-income countries are expected to bear 65% of the elements of groups II – VI, such as cadmium telluride and
global economic burden by 2050. In the United States, the cadmium selenide. These elements exhibit size-dependent
cost of AD treatment was estimated at US$321 billion in optical properties, allowing their emission wavelengths
2022, with the projected costs expected to exceed US$1 to be tuned across a broad spectrum, which is useful in
trillion by 2050. Similarly, in South Korea, the healthcare biological imaging using light-emitting diodes. Elements
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cost for AD treatment was US$4.218 million between 2015 of group III – V, such as indium arsenide and gallium
and 2019. Recent advancements have introduced various arsenide, are known for their excellent electronic properties,
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innovative approaches, including graphene quantum including high electron mobility and direct bandgap,
dots (GQDs), the youngest member of the carbon family. making them ideal for applications in optoelectronics,
These nanoparticles, known for their strong light emission quantum computing, and photonics. In addition, elements
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and fluorescence, exhibit unique properties such as size of groups IV and VI, such as lead sulfide and lead selenide,
tunability, high quantum yield, photostability, and versatile are known for their strong infrared absorption and emission,
emission capabilities. GQDs offer promising potential for which are important for applications in telecommunications,
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Volume 4 Issue 4 (2025) 18 doi: 10.36922/an.7087