title: Synthesis of biocompatible multicolor luminescent carbon dots for bioimaging applications.
abstract: Water-soluble carbon dots (C-dots) were prepared through microwave-assisted pyrolysis of an aqueous solution of dextrin in the presence of sulfuric acid. The C-dots produced showed multicolor luminescence in the entire visible range, without adding any surface-passivating agent. X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies revealed the graphitic nature of the carbon and the presence of hydrophilic groups on the surface, respectively. The formation of uniformly distributed C-dots and their luminescent properties were, respectively, revealed from transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The biocompatible nature of C-dots was confirmed by a cytotoxicity assay on MDA-MB-468 cells and their cellular uptake was assessed through a localization study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Nagaprasad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Puvvada
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: B N Prashanth
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Suraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Himani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kalita
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Mahitosh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandal
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, 721302, India.
authors.forename: Amita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pathak
keywords: C-dots; biocompatibility; microwave irradiation; multicolor luminescence