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A Green Route Towards Highly Photoluminescent and Cytocompatible Carbon dot Synthesis and its Separation Using Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation

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Abstract

An efficient, fast and green method for synthesis of Carbon dots (C-dots) using natural precursor Citrus limone under ultrasonic condition is demonstrated. Such as-synthesized C-dots were further purified using Sucrose density gradient centrifugation method (SDGC) which resulted in the separation of water-soluble, photo luminescent, monodispersed, highly photostable and chemically stable C-dot fractions (F1 and F2). They possess very small size (5–20 nm) as evidenced by High angle annular dark field-Scanning Transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) and very strong luminescence as shown by fluorescence spectroscopic studies. Cytocompatibility and bio imaging properties of both the fractions (F1 and F2) were then studied on Hep-2 cells. Quantum yield of F1 and F2 fraction was found to be 12.1 and 15 %, respectively.

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Correspondence to Goldie Oza.

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Oza, G., Oza, K., Pandey, S. et al. A Green Route Towards Highly Photoluminescent and Cytocompatible Carbon dot Synthesis and its Separation Using Sucrose Density Gradient Centrifugation. J Fluoresc 25, 9–14 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-014-1477-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10895-014-1477-x

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