Vitamin B1 derived blue and green fluorescent carbon nanoparticles for cell-imaging application.
A carbon-based fluorescent nanoparticle is considered to be a new generation nontoxic nanoprobe suitable for various bioimaging and sensing applications. However, the synthesis of such a high-quality nanoparticle is challenging, and its application potential is mostly unexplored. Here we report a vitamin B1 carbonization-based approach for blue and green fluorescent carbon nanoparticles of <10 nm size with a fluorescence quantum of up to 76%. We found that carbonization of vitamin B1 in the presence of phosphate salt at ∼90-130 °C for about 2 h produces highly fluorescent carbon nanoparticles of 1-6 nm size. The particle size and fluorescence property can be controlled by varying the reaction temperature and nature of phosphate salt. Elemental analysis shows the incorporation of a large percentage (up to 48 wt %) of other elements (such as nitrogen, oxygen, phophorus, and sulfur) in the carbon matrix. The chemical structure of vitamin B1 (thiamine) is unique in a sense that it consists of a large number of heteroatoms along with unsaturated bonds and offers low-temperature carbonization with the formation of a nanoparticle having an optimum ratio of sp(2) and sp(3) carbon atoms. These carbon nanoparticles have high colloidal stability and stable fluorescence and have been used as fluorescent imaging probes.
Centre for Advanced Materials, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science , Kolkata 700032, India.
Susanta Kumar
SK
Bhunia
Nibedita
N
Pradhan
Nikhil R
NR
Jana
D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D010316:Particle Size; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013831:Thiamine / Q000737:chemistry*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D010710:Phosphates; D002244:Carbon; D013831:Thiamine