Carbon dots (CDs), including carbon quantum dots (CQDs), are ultra-small carbon-based nanomaterials, typically below 10 nm, with tunable photoluminescence, high aqueous dispersibility, favorable biocompatibility, low toxicity, and abundant surface functional groups. These properties make CDs promising multifunctional platforms for nanomedicine, particularly in bioimaging, biosensing, targeted drug/gene delivery, photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), antimicrobial treatment, and theranostic applications. This review critically examines recent advances in CD fabrication, including top-down, bottom-up, green biomass-derived, microwave-assisted, hydrothermal, and emerging hybrid strategies, with emphasis on how precursor selection, heteroatom doping, surface passivation, and polymer/ligand functionalization regulate optical performance, biological interaction, and therapeutic efficiency. The review discusses structural classification, including CQDs, graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots, and carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), together with major characterization approaches such as ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Particular attention is given to red/near-infrared (NIR) emission, renal clearance, drug-loading behavior, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, toxicity mechanisms, biodistribution, and long-term biosafety. This review also highlights key translational barriers, including batch-to-batch variability, limited standardization, scalable manufacturing, regulatory uncertainty, and incomplete pharmacokinetic evaluation. It considers artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as emerging tools for reproducible CD design. CDs represent versatile and clinically promising nanoplatforms, but their translation requires standardized synthesis, rigorous safety assessment, and application-specific regulatory validation.

Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HLHDT) is a traditional Korean and Chinese medicinal formula known for its anti-inflammatory properties. This study evaluated the breadth of HLHDT’s therapeutic potential by analyzing literature on its anti-inflammatory effects. A database search (PubMed and CNKI) retrieved 2,013 relevant articles, of which 48 papers were selected for systematic review. Clinical studies showed its effectiveness in treating various inflammatory conditions, including radiation dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, diabetic foot infections, periodontitis, oral diseases, and acute viral myocarditis. The analysis revealed that HLHDT effectively modulated inflammation across models including suppression of inflammatory pathways in lipopolysaccharide-treated A549 cells, and showing autophagy-related effects in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, research on conditions such as atopic dermatitis, atherosclerosis, and acute lung injury determined its efficacy in treating a range of inflammatory diseases. The capacity of HLHDT to significantly reduce many proinflammatory markers underscored its extensive anti-inflammatory effects, and highlighted its potential in addressing both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. However, the predominance of studies conducted in China and variability in methodological quality may limit the generalizability of the findings. Therefore, there is a need for further clinical research to validate the effects of HLHDT, and explore its underlying mechanisms of action. This study demonstrated the potential of HLHDT as a significant therapeutic agent in traditional Chinese medicine.

The accumulation of oxidative damage and inflammation, induced by internal and external factors, represents a major mechanism underlying the aging of skin. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, upregulating matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and facilitating extracellular matrix degradation. Although nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and hyaluronic acid (HA) possess antioxidant and dermoprotective properties, their potential combinational effects remain largely obscure. This study evaluated the impact of NMN and HA co-treatment on ROS production, MAPK signaling, MMP-1 secretion, and type I collagen secretion in TNF-α-stimulated human epidermal keratinocytes. ROS levels were assessed via DCFDA assay, while MMP-1 and COL1A1 secretion were quantified using ELISA. Additionally, the regulatory effects on ERK, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation were determined by Western blot. Synergy prediction was analyzed using the SynergyFinder platform via Highest Single Agent and Loewe models. While NMN and HA individually attenuated TNF-α-induced ROS and MMP-1 levels, co-treatment provided superior suppression and exhibited combinational interactions at specific concentrations. These findings suggest that NMN and HA combination treatment effectively modulates oxidative stress and skin-aging-related responses by regulating ROS levels and MAPK signaling pathways.