▎ 摘　　要

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs), among the graphene-based materials, possess distinct physical and electrochemical properties, including nano size, large surface-to-volume ratio, and low cytotoxicity, and have become a promising alternative in the field of biomedicine. Moreover, the integration of specific optical properties, that is, tunable photoluminescence and up-photoluminescence, has led to remarkable bioapplications in bioimaging, biosensors, and phototherapy. In this review, we concentrate on the process of synthesis, optical properties, and the biomedical applications of GQDs. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.