Cysteamine derived N/S co-doped carbon dots for fluorescence imaging of pathogenic bacteria and human buccal epithelial cells

• Published in: Materials letters 2021-12, Vol.305, p.130725, Article 130725
• Main Authors: Pathak, Abhishek, Chandhana, J.P., Ratheesh, Aswin, Nair, Bipin G., Suneesh, Punathil Vasu, Satheesh Babu, T.G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 50X TAE; Bacteria; Bio-imaging; Carbon dots; Cysteamine; E coli; Epithelium; Fluorescence; Fluorimetry; Human buccal epithelial cells; Imaging; Materials science; Microorganisms; Nitrogen; Pathogenic bacteria
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.130725

[Display omitted] •Synthesized cysteamine based nitrogen and sulphur co-doped carbon dots (Cy@CD).•Cy@CD showed brilliant photostability, high water dispersibility and low cytotoxicity.•Cy@CD used for in vitro fluorescent imaging of bacterial and mammalian cell (hBEC). Here, we report cysteamine derived nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (Cy@CD) for imaging pathogenic bacteria and human buccal epithelial cells. The Cy@CD was synthesized using one-step simple microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis with precursors, namely, cysteamine and 50X TAE buffer. The spectroscopic characterization of Cy@CD showed (λex/λem) at 350/434 nm with a decent quantum yield of 13.2%. Cy@CD was deployed in tagging bacterial cells such as E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and B. subtilis and human buccal epithelial cells. The multicolour emissive Cy@CD tagged microbial cells were also cross-validated by fluorometry analysis. The fluorescent Cy@CD could be used as an ideal substitute for the harmful synthetic fluorescent stain in cell imaging applications.