Highly luminescent pH-responsive carbon quantum dots for cell imaging. (25th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Xiaohui; Wang, Yang; Li, Bo; Shen, Chang; Sun, Zhengguang; Zhan, Yuan; Zhang, Yuhong
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 33:Number 26(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-25
• Subjects: carbon quantum dots -- pH-responsive -- high luminescence -- reversible -- biological imaging; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac5ee5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: Carbon quantum dots (CDs) have attracted tremendous interest owing to their idiosyncratic functions and wide-ranging applications. However, it remains a great challenge to empolder an integrated CDs combining high luminescence, biocompatibility and luminescence color tunability for bioimaging via simple approach. In this work, pH-responsive carbon quantum dots (Si-CDs) with high luminescence (quantum yield = 74.8%) were fabricated by one-step hydrothermal method using (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane (KH-580) as modifier for the first time. The optical properties of the as-prepared Si-CDs can be controlled from obvious green–blue–violet transformation by altering the pH. More importantly, the change is reversible and repeatable. In addition, the Si-CDs have good biocompatibility and chemically inert in vitro cell system simulation. Such non-toxic, environmental friendly, low-cost, inert CDs materials are promising candidates for biomedical and pH-sensitive sensors.