Ultra-radiant photoluminescence of glutathione rigidified reduced carbon quantum dots (r-CQDs) derived from ice-biryani for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging applications

Current trends in carbon-based quantum dots development from solid wastes and their applications

“…CQDs are synthesized from a variety of biodegradable sources, such as manure (D’Angelis do E. S. Barbosa et al 2015 ; Horst et al 2021 ), hair (Guo et al 2016 ; Liu et al 2014 ; Singh et al 2020 ), plant roots (D’souza et al 2018 ; Yu et al 2019 ), stems (Vandarkuzhali et al 2017 ), fruit and vegetable peels and shells (Ang et al 2020 ; Atchudan et al 2021 ; Bankoti et al 2017 ; Cheng et al 2017 ; Hu et al 2021 ; Prasannan and Imae 2013 ; Qureshi et al 2021 ; Rajamanikandan et al 2021 ; Surendran et al 2020 ; Tyagi et al 2016 ; Vandarkuzhali et al 2018 ; Wang et al 2020 ; Xue et al 2016 ; Yang et al 2021 ), tea waste (Chen et al 2019 ; Zhu et al 2019 ), wheat straw (S. Liu et al 2021a , b ; Yuan et al 2015 ), animal shell (Gedda et al 2016 ; Yao et al 2017 ), expired milk (Athika et al 2019 ; Su et al 2018 ), feathers (Liu et al 2015 ; Ye et al 2017 ), egg shell (Pramanik et al 2018 ; Wang et al 2012 ; Ye et al 2020 ), whey (Devi et al 2017 ), waste paper (Devi et al 2018 ; Jeong et al 2018 ; Park et al 2020 ), cat feedstocks (Ahn et al 2019 ), soot (Thulasi et al 2020 ; Tripathi et al 2014 ; Venkatesan et al 2019 ), waste oil (Y. Hu et al 2014a , b ; Mahat and Shamsudin 2020 ), petroleum coke (Wang et al 2015a ), sugarcane waste (Pandiyan et al 2020 ; Xu-Cheng et al 2018 ), rice waste (Anthony et al 2020 ; Nguyen et al 2021 ), and wa...…”

“…They used a simple hydrothermal method under 260 °C for 2 h and estimated QY to be 44%. Processed white rice waste was used to synthesize CQDs by carbonization method (Anthony et al 2020 ). To synthesize the CQDs, a muffle furnace was used to carbonize the powdered sample under 250 °C for 24 h. After 36 h of treatment in an oxidizing environment with stirring at 1200 rpm, the produced CQDs were kept in a reducing environment (with NaBH 4 ) to form reduced CQDs (rCQDs), which were then modified by glutathione (GSH) under stirring.…”

“…Because of the strong fluorescence, water solubility, photo-stability, low toxicity, cell-membrane permeability, and excellent biocompatibility, CQDs produced from the pseudo-stem of the banana plant were used as fluorescent probes for imaging of HeLa and MCF-7 cells in three colors (blue, green, and red) (Vandarkuzhali et al 2017 ). The highly luminous r-CQDs-GS from processed white rice has been effectively proven for in vitro and in vivo bioimaging of A549 cells (Anthony et al 2020 ). Apart from that, fabricated N-doped CQDs derived from Platanus biomass have been widely used for cellular imaging of HeLa cells, L02 cells, and macrophage cells.…”

A review on plant derived carbon quantum dots for bio-imaging

“…), rice-biryani (biowaste), corn stalk shell, fresh spinach, and lotus root. 43,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97] Researchers have studied the bioimaging property of biomass derived CQD in various cells such as ''LoVo cell, HepG2, MCF-7, MDA-MB 468, MDA-MB-231, HaCaT, MC3T3, SiHa, HT-29, PC3, K-562, Hep3B, and MG-63 with different sources of biomass to design CQDs such as ''Bee pollens, Peanuts, Peach gum polysaccharide, Tulsi leaves (Ocimum sanctum), P. Avium fruits, Carrots, Walnuts, Rose-heart radish, Watermelon juice, Quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga), Walnut oil, Fungus fibers, Allium fistulosum, Cyanobacteria, Rosa roxburghii, Lemon juice, Sandalwood-derived CQDs, Citrus fruit peels, Mexican mint, and Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe vera) extract'' and found that all of them broadly illuminate the cytoplasm region, suggesting a nonspecific bioimaging ability as it has not shown the property to tag specific cell organelles. The intensity of imaging changes according to the source of biomass.…”

“…8(A). 94 Because of their functionality, the biomass derived CQDs from banana peel exhibit strong fluorescence and an adequate quantum yield of 20% in water. They also have excellent water solubility.…”