Applications of hydrothermal synthesis of derived carbon dots in and imaging and -nitrophenol detection

• Published in: Analyst (London) 2019-12, Vol.145 (1), p.177-183
• Main Authors: Qin, Kunhao, Zhang, Dongfang, Ding, Yafang, Zheng, Xiaodan, Xiang, Yingying, Hua, Jianhao, Zhang, Qi, Ji, Xiuling, Li, Bo, Wei, Yunlin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0003-2654; 1364-5528
• DOI: 10.1039/c9an01753d

Carbon dots (CDs) have broad prospective applications in various fields, and expanding the applications of fluorescent CDs, especially for CDs derived from bacteria, is a major research goal. In this study, novel CDs derived from Escherichia coli BW25113 (WT) were successfully synthesized via a one-step hydrothermal method. Unlike previously developed CDs- E. coli , CDs-WT can be used for microbial imaging of both live and dead cells. We demonstrated the biocompatibility, excellent penetrability, and nontoxic characteristics of CDs-WT for use as fluorescent probes for bioimaging both in vitro and in vivo . Importantly, we provide the first demonstration of CDs-WT distribution in various organs of mice, including the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and the potential for rapid excretion through the intestines. Additionally, CDs-WT can be instantly utilized as a fluorescent probe for the highly selective and rapid detection of p -nitrophenol ( p -NP) by the inner filter effect, with a limit of detection for p -NP of 11 nM, the lowest value reported to date. Hence, our results demonstrate the feasibility of p -NP detection and extend the bio-imaging applications of CDs prepared from bacteria. The schematic of the synthesis route for fluorescent CDs-WT and the applications in the bioimaging and detection for p -NP is presented.