Highly luminescent N-doped carbon dots from black soya beans for free radical scavenging, Fe3+ sensing and cellular imaging

• Published in: Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy, 2019-03, Vol.211, p.363-372
• Main Authors: Jia, Jing, Lin, Bo, Gao, Yifang, Jiao, Yuan, Li, Lei, Dong, Chuan, Shuang, Shaomin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellular imaging; Fe3+ detection; Highly luminescent; N-doped carbon dots; Radical scavenging activity
• ISSN: 1386-1425
• DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2018.12.034

The novel N doped carbon dots (N-CDs) were readily fabricated through one-step pyrolysis method from black soya beans. The obtained N-CDs possessed excellent photoluminescence properties with quantum yield of 38.7 ± 0.64% and dual responsive properties towards free radical and Fe3+. The N-CDs exhibited favorable radical scavenging activity (RSA) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide anion radicals. Fe3+ could induce photoluminescence quenching of N-CDs through static quenching characteristics. The possible quenching mechanism was presented. Combining with negligible toxicity and preferable biocompatibility, the N-CDs were extended to imaging intracellular Fe3+. As an attractive candidate, the N-CDs demonstrated a great potential in free radical scavenging, sensing and cellular imaging. [Display omitted] •The N-CDs possessed highly fluorescence quantum yield of 38.7 ± 0.64%.•The obtained N-CDs possessed dual responsive properties towards free radical and Fe3+.•The N-CDs possessed good water dispersibility, excellent chemical and optical stabilities, negligible toxicity and preferable biocompatibility.•The N-CDs were extended to imaging intracellular Fe3+.