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Synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots via microwave carbonization of citric acid in presence of tetraoctylammonium ion, and their application to cellular bioimaging

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Abstract

A jelly-like form of carbon dots (C-dots) was prepared by microwave-assisted synthesis from citric acid in the presence of tetraoctylammonium bromide. The effect of the concentration of tetraoctylammonium bromide was examined. The synthesized carbon dots were characterized by UV–vis, XRD, FTIR, fluorescence and HR-TEM. Fluorescence extends from 350 to 600 nm, and the corresponding excitation wavelengths range from 300 to 460 nm. Quantum yields are at around 0.11. A cytotoxicity study showed carbon dots to be cell permeable and biocompatible which renders them appropriate for imaging applications. The dots were used to image HeLa cell lines via the blue fluorescence of the dots.

C-dots were synthesized from citric acid by microwave heating in presence of varying concentrations of tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB) as a micellar template. The excellent optical properties of the nanoparticles make them well suitable for bio-imaging of HeLa cells.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan and the assistance from National Sun Yat-Sen University. The authors appreciate Mr. Bosgum Wu for his help in the acquisition of chemicals and materials.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lien-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan

    Mukesh Lavkush Bhaisare, Sunil Pandey & Hui-Fen Wu

  2. School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan

    Hui-Fen Wu

  3. Institute of Medical Science and Technology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan

    Hui-Fen Wu

  4. Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University and Academia Sinica, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan

    Abou Talib, M. Shahnawaz Khan & Hui-Fen Wu

  5. Center for Nanosciences and Nanotechnology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lien-Hai Road, Kaohsiung, 80424, Taiwan

    Sunil Pandey & Hui-Fen Wu

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  1. Mukesh Lavkush Bhaisare
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  2. Abou Talib
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Correspondence to Hui-Fen Wu.

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Bhaisare, M.L., Talib, A., Khan, M.S. et al. Synthesis of fluorescent carbon dots via microwave carbonization of citric acid in presence of tetraoctylammonium ion, and their application to cellular bioimaging. Microchim Acta 182, 2173–2181 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1541-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1541-5

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