Facile synthesis of carbon dot and residual carbon nanobeads: Implications for ion sensing, medicinal and biological applications.
Synthesis of carbon dots (Cdots) via chemical route involves disintegration of carbon materials into nano-domains, wherein, after extraction of Cdots, the remaining carbon material is discarded. The present work focuses on studying even the leftover carbon residue namely, carbon nanobeads (CNBs) as an equally important material for applications on par with that of carbon dot. It employs oxidative treatment of carbonised gum olibanum resin (GOR) to produce the carbons namely Cdots and CNBs (as the residue). The Cdots (~5-10nm) exhibit blue-green fluorescence with an optical absorption at ~300nm unlike the CNBs (40-50nm) which fail to exhibit fluorescence. The fluorescence behaviour exhibited by Cdots were utilized for heavy metal ion sensing of Pb2+, Hg2+and Cd2+ions in aqueous media. Interestingly, both Cdots and CNBs are biocompatible to normal cell lines but cytotoxic to cancer cell lines, observed during several in vitro experiments (cell viability assay, cell cycle assay, apoptosis assay, ROS determination assay, caspase-9 activity assay). Additionally, Cdots exhibit bright green fluorescence in B16F10 cells. The Cdots and CNB's demonstrate multifunctional activities (sensor, cellular imaging and cancer therapy) in biomedical applications.
Polymers and Functional Materials Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India.
Rohit Ranganathan
RR
Gaddam
Biomaterials Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Training and Development Complex, CSIR Campus, CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
Sudip
S
Mukherjee
Polymers and Functional Materials Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India.
Neelambaram
N
Punugupati
Electrodics and Electrocatalysis Division, CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi 630006, India.
D
D
Vasudevan
Biomaterials Group, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Training and Development Complex, CSIR Campus, CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
Chitta Ranjan
CR
Patra
Polymers and Functional Materials Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Training and Development Complex, CSIR Campus, CSIR Road, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India.
Ramanuj
R
Narayan
Polymers and Functional Materials Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad 500007, India. Electronic address: drkvsnraju@gmail.com.
Raju
R
Vsn Kothapalli
D000818:Animals; D020811:Biomedical Technology / Q000379:methods*; D016466:CHO Cells; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000032:analysis*; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D054118:Nanospheres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
D007477:Ions; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002244:Carbon; D053453:Caspase 9
Biocompatible; Cancer theranostics; Carbon dots; Carbon nanobeads; Green chemistry; Sensing