Controllable synthesis of green and blue fluorescent carbon nanodots for pH and Cu(2+) sensing in living cells.
We report a controllable strategy for fabrication of green and blue fluorescent carbon nanodots (CDs), and demonstrate their applications for pH and Cu(2+) sensing in living cells. Green and blue fluorescent CDs have been synthesized by hydrothermal method and pyrolysis of leeks, respectively, providing an easy way for the production of CDs without the request of tedious synthetic methodology or the use of toxic/expensive solvents and starting materials. Green fluorescent CDs (G-CDs) exhibit high tolerance to pH values and external cations. Blue fluorescent CDs (B-CDs) can be applied to pH and Cu(2+) sensing. The linear range of Cu(2+) detection is 0.01-10.00 μM and the detection limit is 0.05 μM. For pH detection, there is a good linearity in the pH range of 3.5-10.0. The linear and rapid response of B-CDs to Cu(2+) and pH is valuable for Cu(2+) and pH sensing in living cells. Confocal fluorescent imaging of human cervical carcinoma cells indicates that B-CDs could visualize Cu(2+) and pH fluctuations in living cells with negligible autofluorescence.
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Lihong
L
Shi
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Yanyan
Y
Li
Taiyuan University, Environmental Engineering Department, Taiyuan 030032, PR China.
Xiaofeng
X
Li
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Bo
B
Zhao
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Xiangping
X
Wen
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Guomei
G
Zhang
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Chuan
C
Dong
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, PR China.
Shaomin
S
Shuang
D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D003116:Color; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008422:Materials Testing; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002244:Carbon; D003300:Copper
Carbon nanodots; Fluorescence; Sensing