CARBON QUANTUM DOTS: A SMART PRESERVATIVE FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables remain metabolically active even after harvest causes microbial contamination, oxidative degradation and rapid deterioration leads to significant postharvest losses. Conventional preservatives often raise an environmental and health concerns, creating the need for safer, environmentally friendly and cost-effective preservation technology. Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) are nano sized carbon materials with unique and antimicrobial properties have recently emerged as a promising preservation technology for fruits and vegetables. Their excellent tunable properties, biocompatibility makes them ideal for integration of CQDs into edible coatings and smart packaging films to enhance the shelf life and prolonging the storage of fruits and vegetables. CQDs inhibit bacterial and fungal growth through reactive oxygen species generation and membrane disruption. CQDs has excellent fluorescent properties which allows for real-time monitoring of freshness indicator. Furthermore, CQDs can be derived from agricultural waste offering a sustainable and cost-effective approach for preservation. This review explores the synthesis, mechanism of action and recent application in preservation of fruits and vegetables, highlighting CQDs potential as next generation preservatives.