Description
Khurram Abbas recently completed his Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics from the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University, China. His research focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and application of carbon dots (CDs) for sustainable agriculture and environmental applications. He is particularly interested in understanding how CDs influence plant growth, enhance stress tolerance, and regulate physiological and biochemical processes under adverse environmental conditions. His work integrates nanomaterial engineering with plant biology to develop innovative solutions for sustainable crop production and environmental sustainability.
A distinctive aspect of his research is the integration of nanomaterial engineering with plant physiology and biochemistry. During his doctoral studies, he investigated the effects of carbon dots on plants under various abiotic stress conditions using physiological, biochemical, and cellular approaches. His research involved the analysis of antioxidant enzyme activities, including SOD, POD, CAT, and GPx, as well as intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, bioimaging, and mitochondrial staining to elucidate the mechanisms underlying stress alleviation and enhanced plant performance.
His findings demonstrated the potential of CDs to improve plant resilience by regulating oxidative stress and strengthening antioxidant defense systems. Through this multidisciplinary research, he developed expertise in nanomaterial synthesis and characterization, plant stress physiology, and advanced biological analyses. His long-term research goal is to develop innovative nanomaterials that contribute to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and global food security.
List of Publications
Abbas, K., Ge, Z., Shao, R., Dai, C., Usama, U., Abbas, S. H., Hasnain, M. J. ul, Bandarenka, H., & Bi, H. (2026) Biogenic metal-free carbon dots for synergistic ROS scavenging and imaging in plant cells. Chemical Engineering Journal , 536, 175925.
Abbas, K., U., Usama, W. Q., Zhu, H., Li, Y., Li, Z., Imran, M., & Bi, H. (2025). Exploring carbon dot as a fluorescent nanoprobe for imaging of plant cells under salt/heat-induced stress conditions. Chemical & Biomedical Imaging, 3(8), 534–546. doi.org/10.1021/cbmi.4c00109
Abbas, K., Zhu, H., Qin, W., Wang, M., Li, Z., & Bi, H. (2024). Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Carbon Dots: A Hybrid Approach with Levofloxacin, Curcumin, and Tea Polyphenols. C, 10(3), 84. doi.org/10.3390/c10030084
Abbas, K., Jiang, L., Li, Y., Li, Z., & Bi, H. (2024). Carbon Dots, 238-300 (Book Chapter in Royal Society of Chemistry Elemental Carbon) doi.org/10.1039/9781839169984-00238