Acid anhydride coated carbon nanodots: activated platforms for engineering clicked (bio)nanoconstructs

Activated carbon nanodots functionalized with acid anhydride groups (AA-CNDs) are prepared by one-pot water-free green thermolysis of citric acid. As a proof of concept of their capabilities as appealing and versatile platforms for accessing engineering nanoconstructs, the as-prepared AA-CNDs have been reacted to yield clickable CNDs. Their click bioconjugation with relevant recognizable complementary clickable sugars has led to multivalent CND-based glyconanoparticles that are non-toxic and biorecognizable. The accessibility and intrinsic reactivity of AA-CNDs expand the current toolbox of covalent surface grafting methodologies and provide a wide range of potential applications for engineering (bio)nanoconstructs.