In situ synthesis of luminescent carbon nanoparticles toward target bioimaging

Abstract

This paper describes the in situ synthesis of single fluorescence carbon nanoparticles (FCNs) for target bioimaging applications derived from biocompatible hyaluronic acid (HA) without using common conjugation processes. FCNs formed via the dehydration of hyaluronic acid, which were obtained by carbonizing HA, and partially carbonized HA fluorescence carbon nanoparticles (HA-FCNs), formed by a lower degree of carbonization, show good aqueous solubility, small particle size (<20 nm) and different fluorescence intensities with a red shift. After confirming the cytotoxicity of HA-FCNs and FCNs, we carried out in vitro and in vivo bioimaging studies where HA-FCNs themselves functioned as single particle triggers in target imaging. The converted nanocrystal carbon particles from HA provide outstanding features for in vitro and in vivo new targeted delivery and diagnostic tools.

Phenolic condensation and facilitation of fluorescent carbon dot formation: a mechanism study

“…12 These natural polymers are composed primarily of polysaccharides, which are rapidly condensed in the presence of strong acids to form carbon dots with a certain degree of homogeneity in their optical properties and dimensions. 9,13,14 However, researchers often overlook the presence of trace amounts of phenolic compounds which are found in various polysaccharide backbones of plants and fruit. 15 …”

Preparation of carbon dot‐based ratiometric fluorescent probes for cellular imaging from Curcuma longa

“…Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of (a) C-FNPs and (d) P-FNPs were assigned to C-C, C-O, C = O, and O-C-O, respectively. [19,23] The shift of binding energy peaks for P-FNPs (C-O, C-C, and C = C) confirmed that the C-FNPs were covered by PEG chains. The C-O binding in the area 286 eV after surface passivation demonstrated lower intensity, indicating that the C-O binding was functionalized using the carbon chain in PEG, which was further proven by an increase in the C-C binding.…”

“…Moreover, the number of sp 2 and delocalized electrons in the FNP surface confers the optoelectronics properties. [19][20][21][22] The fluorescent quantum yield (%) is estimated to be about 0.131% for blue and 0.228% for green FNPs as well as 0.398% for blue and 0.252% for green P-FNPs. Interestingly, the P-FNPs showed similar fluorescence profiles to the C-FNPs, but generated higher fluorescent intensities, consistent with the increased quantum yield.…”

“…[6] They possess novel properties including water solubility, high stability, biocompatibility, and high optical absorption efficiency with tunable emissions through efficient size dependent excitation. [7][8][9][10] Some reports cite problems when using FNPs such as instability, persistence in the body, and expense of availability. Therefore, exploring novel fluorescence probes to address these limitations and finding new available fluorescence tags as potential bioimaging probes is important.…”

Concentration‐mediated multicolor fluorescence polymer carbon dots

“…Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs), such as graphene quantum dots (1)(2)(3)(4)(5), carbon nanodots (6)(7)(8)(9)(10) and polymer dots (PDs) (11,12), have attracted a great deal of interest from academia and industry due to their low toxicity, biocompatibility, photostability and scalability. PDs are being developed to replace carbon dots (CDs) in various applications, including chemical/biosensing, bioimaging, nanomedicine and as nanocatalysts (13)(14)(15).…”