Germanium-doped carbon dots as a new type of fluorescent probe for visualizing the dynamic invasions of mercury(ii) ions into cancer cells

Abstract

Carbon dots doped with germanium (GeCDs) were firstly prepared by a new simple 15 min carbonation synthesis route, exhibiting excitation-independent photoluminescence (PL), which could avoid autofluorescence in bioimaging applications. The as-prepared GeCDs have low cell toxicity, good biocompatibility, high intracellular delivery efficiency, stability and could be applied for detection of mercury(II) ions with excellent selectivity in complicated medium. It is to be noted that the as-prepared GeCDs used as a new type of probe for visualization of dynamic invasions of mercury(II) ions into Hep-2 cells display greatly different properties from most of the previously reported CDs which are regularly responsive to iron ions. All the results suggest that the GeCDs can be employed for visualization and monitoring of the significant physiological changes of living cells induced by Hg(2+).

Chiral nanoprobes for targeting and long-term imaging of the Golgi apparatus

“…Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs), since their first discovery in 2004, 9 have been found to be physicochemically and photochemically stable without photobleaching, making them a star family in the biosensing and bioimaging fields. 10 – 13 However, bare CQDs are usually weakly fluorescent and it is hard to attach functional groups on the surface. 14 , 15 Regardless of continuous efforts to circumvent the problems, 16 challenges still remain to engineer CQDs with desirable biosensing and labeling properties, such as a high quantum yield and preferable selectivity for the long-term and real-time monitoring of targets of interest.…”

Semi-quantitative and visual assay of copper ions by fluorescent test paper constructed with dual-emission carbon dots

“…S1A †). 21,22 The uorescence spectrum of BCDs exhibited an emission peak at 440 nm with an excitation of 360 nm (the black curve in Fig. S1A †), and a bright blue uorescence was under a 365 nm UV lamp (inset in Fig.…”

NIR‐responsive nanomaterials and their applications; upconversion nanoparticles and carbon dots: a perspective

“…found no toxicity after performing serum biochemistry assays and organ histopathological analyses in mice at a CDs dosage of 40 mg CDs/kg body weight. Both of their findings indicate biocompatibility and low toxicity of CDs at high concentration, this has led to the widespread application of CDs in biological fields . By using a one‐pot pyrolysis method, Ardekani et al .…”

“…Both of their findings indicate biocompatibility and low toxicity of CDs at high concentration, this has led to the widespread application of CDs in biological fields. 50,[62][63][64][65][66] By using a one-pot pyrolysis method, Ardekani et al 67 synthesized nitrogen-doped and surface passivated CDs with high w/w loading capacity of 0.98, with the ability to release the loaded biomolecules via two-photon excitation. This synthesized complex was then delivered to 3D cultured human breast cancer and the synergistic chemo and phototherapy resulted in the death of 78% of the cancer cells.…”