Nanocarbon as a Quantum Material for Biointerfaces and Magnetic Platforms in Theranostic Biomedicine in Oncology: A Critical Review

Abstract

Nanostructured carbon materials are low-dimensional systems relevant to oncology biosensing, with their utility arising from an electronic structure coupled to defect and edge states, a charge-transfer behavior and optical response that report molecular binding, an interfacial chemistry governing contact with the analyte, and, in selected cases, magnetic properties enabling manipulation and readout. In functional terms, these behaviors trace to specific quantum-relevant features—quantum confinement, edge and defect states, and the resulting size-dependent optical and charge-transfer responses—rather than to a generic quantum-material designation. This critical review treats nanocarbons as engineered biointerfaces whose performance is set by how the carbon surface behaves in biological fluid, how recognition chemistry is anchored, and how the binding event is transduced, with magnetic responsiveness, stability, reproducibility, and fabrication control as decisive constraints. The analysis separates three material classes—non-magnetic nanocarbon sensors, hybrid carbon–magnetic systems, and defect-associated or potentially metal-free magnetic carbons—while grading evidence as direct, adjacent, comparator-derived, or prospective. Directly, graphene, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots, graphene quantum dots, and magnetic carbon hybrids serve in electrochemical, optical and fluorescent, field-effect, and magnetic-assisted formats. Clinical translation, however, remains constrained by biofouling, protein-corona formation, matrix interference, unstable functionalization, batch variability, incomplete standardization, and scarce validation in real samples and patient cohorts. Metal-free or defect-associated magnetic carbons therefore warrant caution, remaining prospective platforms until the preservation of magnetic response, reproducible functionalization, matrix compatibility, safety, and measurable analytical advantage are directly demonstrated.