Bright-blue-emission nitrogen and phosphorus-doped carbon quantum dots as a promising nanoprobe for detection of Cr(vi) and ascorbic acid in pure aqueous solution and in living cells. (5th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Singh, Vikas Kumar; Singh, Virendra; Yadav, Pradeep Kumar; Chandra, Subhash; Bano, Daraksha; Kumar, Vijay; Koch, Biplob; Talat, Mahe; Hasan, Syed Hadi
• Is Part Of: New journal of chemistry. Volume 42:Number 15(2018)
• Page Start: 12990
• Page End: 12997
• Publication Date: 2018-07-05
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chimie -- Périodiques; 540
• DOI: 10.1039/c8nj02126k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1144-0546

Abstract

Abstract : Efficient synthesis of N, P-CQDs via a one-step hydrothermal method with a high quantum yield for potential applications in turn-off and turn-on detections of Cr(vi ) and AA in vitro in living cells. Abstract : Highly fluorescent nitrogen and phosphorus-doped carbon quantum dots (N, P-CQDs) were synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method and fully characterized via various techniques such as TEM, DLS, FT-IR, P-XRD and XPS analysis. The as-synthesized N, P-CQDs showed excellent optical properties and exhibited bright blue colour under UV-light with CIE coordinate (0.20, 0.22) along with a high quantum yield of 73%, due to which they could act as on–off fluorescent nanoprobes for the selective and sensitive detection of highly toxic Cr(vi ) below its permissible limit via the inner filter effect (IFE) and static quenching mechanism. In addition, Cr(vi ) could be reduced to lower valent chromium species. Therefore, the N, P-CQDs + Cr(vi ) system further acted as a selective off–on sensor for reductant ascorbic acid (AA) because it reduced Cr(vi ) to Cr(iii ) species, resulting in the elimination of IFE and recovery of fluorescence of N, P-CQDs. Notably, this system possesses excellent biocompatibility and negligible cytotoxicity; therefore, it can be potentially applied for fluorescence imaging of intracellular Cr(vi ) and ascorbic acid (AA) in living cells and complex biological systems.