Histidine-derived nontoxic nitrogen-doped carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging applications.
Nitrogen-doped (N-doped) photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) were prepared by a one-pot microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment using histidine as the sole carbon source in the absence of acid, alkali, or metal ions. With a diameter of 2-5 nm, the synthesized CDs had apparent lattice fringes and exhibited an excitation-dependent photoluminescent behavior. The CDs were highly yielded, well-dispersed in aqueous solution, and showed high photostability in the solutions of a wide range of pH and salinity. They were used as probes to identify the presence of Fe(3+) ions with a detection limit of 10 nM. With confirmed nontoxicity, these CDs could enter the cancer cells, indicating a practical potential for cellular imaging and labeling.
State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, and ‡State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials, College of Chemistry, Jilin University , Changchun, Jilin 130012, People's Republic of China.
He
H
Huang
Chunguang
C
Li
Shoujun
S
Zhu
Hailong
H
Wang
Cailing
C
Chen
Zhaorui
Z
Wang
Tianyu
T
Bai
Zhan
Z
Shi
Shouhua
S
Feng
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D002470:Cell Survival; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D005453:Fluorescence; D057809:HEK293 Cells; D006639:Histidine / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008872:Microwaves; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013499:Surface Properties
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006639:Histidine; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen