title: Facile and green approach to prepare fluorescent carbon dots: Emergent nanomaterial for cell imaging and detection of vitamin B2.
abstract: Carbon dots (CDs) are a new representative in carbonaceous family and have initiated remarkable research interests over the past one decade in a large variety of fields. Herein, we have utilized a facile, one-step carbonization method to prepare fluorescent carbon dots using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) both as a carbon source and as a surface passivating agent. The as prepared CDs emit bright blue fluorescence under ultraviolet illumination. The structure and optical properties of the CDs are thoroughly investigated by several methods such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy; dynamic light scattering; UV-vis, fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The CDs exhibit excellent water solubility and demonstrate average hydrodynamic diameter of 11.3 nm, holding great promise for biological applications. The biocompatibility evaluation and in vitro imaging study reveals that the synthesized CDs can be used as effective fluorescent probes in bio-imaging without noticeable cytotoxicity. In addition, a unique sensor for the detection of vitamin B2 in aqueous solution is proposed on the basis of spontaneous fluorescence resonance energy transfer from CD to vitamin B2. These findings therefore suggest that the CDs can find potential applications in cellular imaging along with sensing of vitamin B2.
authors: Polymer Science Unit, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors: Aniruddha
authors: A
authors: Kundu
authors: Polymer Science Unit, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors: Sudipta
authors: S
authors: Nandi
authors: Polymer Science Unit, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India.
authors: Pradip
authors: P
authors: Das
authors: Polymer Science Unit, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700 032, India. Electronic address: psuakn@iacs.res.in.
authors: Arun K
authors: AK
authors: Nandi
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000032:analysis*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D002244:Carbon; D012256:Riboflavin
keywords: Carbon dot; Cell imaging; FRET; Fluorescence; Sensor