OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 14 3 2022 06 13 Carbon Dots derived from Ocimum sanctum for dapsone–protein interactions: a quantitative approach 10.1007/s40097-022-00503-3 EN Anjali Vijeata Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, IN Ganga Ram Chaudhary Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, IN Savita Chaudhary Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, IN Ahmad Umar Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Arts, Najran University, Najran, 11001, SA Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Najran University, Najran, 11001, SA Sotirios Baskoutas Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, Patras, GR Journal Article 2022 06 13 Abstract The enthralling biocompatibility and low toxicity of carbon dots (CDs) has played progressive role in drug delivery. The present study aimed to use dapsone (Dap) as a model antileprosy drug and CDs as a drug carrier with a vision to enumerate a new and proficient means to study the physicochemical interaction of drug with serum albumins. The fluorescent CDs were fabricated by thermal calcination of a natural, nontoxic medicinal flower of Ocimum sanctum. The systematic surveillance of genotoxic studies on Allium sativum and gram-negative bacteria demonstrated the biocompatible nature of CDs in the used concentration ranges. The Dap molecules were anchored over the exterior surface of CDs via chemical interactions and then two different types of serum albumins were loaded on Dap–CDs complex by taking advantage of the electrostatic interactions. Furthermore, release behaviour of Dap from Dap–CDs complex at different pH conditions has been analysed. The apparent binding constant values between serum albumins with complex of Dap–CDs have further illustrated strong interaction between two components. Additionally, systematic information about the energetic of antileprosy drug–protein affinities over the surface of CDs as carried out in this work, is very important in providing detailed information for drug release behaviour. Graphical abstract