Title
Facile synthesis of fluorescent carbon quantum dots and their potential application in cancer theranostics
Author
Bryan Christian A. Karingal
Year
2021
Journal
Biophotonics and Immune Responses
Abstract
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are an emerging research area in the biomedical field due to their biocompatibility and multifunctionality. Herein, we report CQDs synthesized in a green, fast, facile manner in a recyclable mineral oilmediated pyrolysis medium using citric acid as the main carbon source and thiourea as N- and S-doping source. The assynthesized CQDs exhibit excitation-dependent photoemission (Φ = 0.57) with notable energy upconversion behavior at longer wavelengths, suggesting possible utilization in multiphoton microscopy. FT-IR characterization suggest diverse functional groups on the surface which include carboxylic acids, amines, and thiocyanates among others. Photothermal analysis supported the NIR-emissive behavior and showed that CQD solution temperature could potentially increase nearly 20°C higher after 10 min irradiation by 630-nm LED laser source powered at 1 W/cm2. CQDs have been tested in vitro and has been used as multicolor cellular imaging agent.
Instrument
FT/IR-4700, V-750
Keywords
CQDs, Carbon quantum dots, biocompartibility, multifunctionality