Green-emissive carbon quantum dots with high fluorescence quantum yield: Preparation and cell imaging

doi:10.1007/s11706-021-0544-x

Front. Mater. Sci.

2021, Vol. 15

Issue (2) : 253-265 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-021-0544-x

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Green-emissive carbon quantum dots with high fluorescence quantum yield: Preparation and cell imaging

Yingying WEI^1,², Lin CHEN², Shaoban ZHAO², Xuguang LIU^1,²(

), Yongzhen YANG²(

), Jinglei DU³, Qiang LI³, Shiping YU³

¹. The Institute of New Carbon Materials, Taiyuan University of Technology, Jinzhong 030600, China
². Key Laboratory of Interface Science and Engineering in Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
³. Interventional Treatment Department, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, China

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Abstract

High fluorescence quantum yield (QY), excellent fluorescence stability, and low toxicity are essential for a good cellular imaging fluorescent probe. Green-emissive carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with many advantages, such as unique fluorescence properties, anti-photobleaching, low toxicity, fine biocompatibility and high penetration depth in tissues, have been considered as a potential candidate in cell imaging fluorescent probes. Herein, N, S-codoped green-emissive CQDs (QY= 64.03%) were synthesized by the one-step hydrothermal method, with m-phenylenediamine as the carbon and nitrogen source, and L-cysteine as the nitrogen and sulfur dopant, under the optimum condition of 200 °C reaction for 2 h. Their luminescence was found to originate from the surface state. In light of the satisfactory photobleaching resistance and the low cytotoxicity, CQDs were used as a cell imaging probe for HeLa cell imaging. The results clearly indicate that cells can be labeled with CQDs, which can not only enter the cytoplasm, but also enter the nucleus through the nuclear pore, showing their broad application prospect in the field of cell imaging.

Keywords fluorescence quantum yield green emission carbon quantum dot N, S-codoping cell imaging

Corresponding Author(s): Xuguang LIU,Yongzhen YANG

Online First Date: 16 April 2021 Issue Date: 08 June 2021

Cite this article:

Yingying WEI,Lin CHEN,Shaoban ZHAO, et al. Green-emissive carbon quantum dots with high fluorescence quantum yield: Preparation and cell imaging[J]. Front. Mater. Sci., 2021, 15(2): 253-265.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/10.1007/s11706-021-0544-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/foms/EN/Y2021/V15/I2/253

Fig.1 The synthesis of CQDs for cellular imaging.

Fig.2 QY slope diagrams of CQDs synthesized under (a) different reaction temperatures and (b) different reaction time.

Tab.1 Comparison of green-emissive CQDs in this work with those reported in the literature [4,7–17]

Fig.3 (a) TEM image as well as particle size statistics and (b) HRTEM images of CQDs.

Fig.4 (a) XRD pattern and (b) Raman spectrum of CQDs.

Fig.5 (a) Full scan XPS spectrum of CQDs. (b)(c)(d)(e) High-resolution C 1s, N 1s, O 1s and S 2p XPS spectra of CQDs. (f) FTIR spectrum of CQDs.

Fig.6 (a) UV–vis absorption spectrum, excitation spectrum and emission spectrum of CQDs. (b) Emission spectra of the CQD aqueous solution at different excitation wavelengths, as well as photographs of the as-prepared CQD aqueous solution under sunlight (inset, left) and under the 365 nm UV light (inset, right).

Fig.7 (a) Fluorescence lifetime curve of CQDs. (b) Emission spectra of CQDs in different solvents (the inner illustration shows the emission peak of CQDs in different solvents). (c) Photographs of CQDs in different solvents under sunlight and the 365 nm UV light. (d) Emission spectra (illustrated as emission peaks of CQDs in different pH conditions) and (e) zeta potentials of CQDs in different pH solutions.

Fig.8 (a) Emission spectra and (b) zeta potentials of CQDs in three different solutions (0.9% NaCl, PBS, and water). (c) Emission spectra of CQDs in solutions with different NaCl concentrations. (d) The change curve of the CQDs fluorescence intensity with the irradiation time (the excitation wavelength is 420 nm).

Fig.9 Change of the viability of HeLa cells after 24 h incubation with the concentration of CQDs.

Fig.10 Confocal laser images of HeLa cells incubated with 50 μg·mL⁻¹ CQDs for 4 h under (a) bright field, (b) dark field, and (c) merged image (excitation wavelength: 405 nm).

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