Sulfur-doped graphene quantum dots as a novel fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of Fe(3+)

Fe(3+)-functionalized carbon quantum dots: A facile preparation strategy and detection for ascorbic acid in rat brain microdialysates

This study reports an Fe(3+)-functionalized carbon quantum dots (Fe(3+)-functionalized CQDs) for the highly sensitive and selective detection of ascorbic acid (AA) in rat brain microdialysates based on the specific redox reaction between iron(III) ions and AA. The carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized by one-step pyrolysis of a small organic molecules i.e. tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (Tris). Fe(3+) can tightly chelate to the surface of CQDs by the hydroxyl group to form Fe(3+)-functionalized CQDs while the fluorescence of CQDs can be effectively quenched by Fe(3+) via Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The fluorescence of the Fe(3+)-functionalized CQDs can be sensitively turned on by AA to give an "on-off-on" fluorescence response through the oxidation-reduction between Fe(3+) and AA since the produced Fe(2+) has much lower chelating ability to CQDs and the fluorescence of CQDs can be restored. This Fe(3+)-functionalized CQDs based nanoprobe shows high selective and sensitive response in the concentration of AA ranging from 0.1 μM to 50 μM with the detection limit as lower as 9.1 nM, which is lower than other assays. Finally, the proposed fluorescent probe was successfully applied to direct analysis of AA in biological fluids, i.e. rat brain microdialysates, and may pave a new route to the design of effective carbon quantum dots-based fluorescence probes for other bioassay.

A label-free photoelectrochemical aptasensor based on nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots for chloramphenicol determination

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing platform for chloramphenicol (CAP) detection was constructed using nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) as transducer species and label-free aptamer as biological recognition element. N-GQDs, synthesized via a facile one-step hydrothermal method, were explored to achieve highly efficient photon-to-electricity conversion under visible light irradiation. The obtained N-GQDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which displayed a narrow size distribution with a mean diameter of 2.14 nm. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FT-IR) analysis confirmed that nitrogen was successfully doped in GQDs. The UV-visible absorption spectra indicated that nitrogen doping obviously enhanced the absorption of GQDs in visible light region. As a result, the PEC activity of GQDs was promoted by nitrogen doping. Additionally, the π-conjugated structure of N-GQDs provided an excellent platform for aptamer immobilization via π-π stacking interaction. Such an aptamer/N-GQDs based sensor showed a linear PEC response to CAP concentration in the range of 10-250 nM with a detection limit (3 S/N) of 3.1 nM. The developed PEC aptasensor exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, good reproducibility and high stability.

Multicolor fluorescent graphene quantum dots colorimetrically responsive to all-pH and a wide temperature range

Smart functional nanomaterials colorimetrically responsive to all-pH and a wide temperature range are urgently needed due to their widespread applications in biotechnology, drug delivery, diagnosis and optical sensing. Although graphene quantum dots possess remarkable advantages in biological applications, they are only stable in neutral or weak acidic solutions, and strong acidic or alkaline conditions invariably suppress or diminish the fluorescence intensity. Herein, we report a new type of water-soluble, multicolor fluorescent graphene quantum dot which is responsive to all-pH from 1 to 14 with the naked eye. The synthesis was accomplished by electrolysis of the graphite rod, followed by refluxing in a concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid mixed solution. We demonstrate the novel red fluorescence of quinone structures transformed from the lactone structures under strong alkaline conditions. The fluorescence of the resulting graphene quantum dots was also found to be responsive to the temperature changes, demonstrating their great potential as a dual probe of pH and temperature in complicated environments such as biological media.

Synthesis of N, F and S co-doped graphene quantum dots

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are a promising category of materials with remarkable size dependent properties like tunable bandgap and photoluminescence along with the possibility of effective chemical functionalization. Doping of GQDs with heteroatoms is an interesting way of regulating their properties. Herein, we report a facile and scalable one-step synthesis of luminescent GQDs, substitutionally co-doped with N, F and S, of ∼2 nm average size by a microwave treatment of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in a customized ionic liquid medium. The use of an ionic liquid coupled with the use of a microwave technique enables not only an ultrafast process for the synthesis of co-doped GQDs, but also provides excellent photoluminescence quantum yield (70%), perhaps due to the interaction of defect clusters and dopants.

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots for highly selective and sensitive detection of Hg (II) ions

Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (N,S/C-dots) with high fluorescence quantum yields (FLQY, 25%) was successfully synthesized by a one-step microwave-assisted method. In comparison with nitrogen doped C-dots (N/C-dots) prepared using the same method, the resulting N,S/C-dots featured small particle size, uniform surface state, insensitive FL properties to excitation wavelengths and environmental conditions, negligible cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility. Simultaneous doping of N and S effectively promoted electron-transfer and coordination interaction between N,S/C-dots and Hg(2+). Thus, when used as fluorescence probe for Hg(2+) label-free detection, the resulting N,S/C-dots showed good detection sensitivity and ion selectivity. The limit of detection was 2 μM; among 15 metal ions investigated, only Fe(3+) showed interference to the Hg(2+) detection. Fortunately, this interference could be effectively shielded using a chelating agent sodium hexametaphoshpate. The applicability of N,S/C-dots as fluorescence probe for Hg(2+) detection in lake water and tap water was demonstrated. Finally, based on its favorable features of negligible cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility, the N,S/C-dots were successfully applied to probe Hg(2+) in living cells, which broaden its application in biological system.

Uncovering the pKa dependent fluorescence quenching of carbon dots induced by chlorophenols

Fluorescence quenching induced by targets is always an alluring strategy to elucidate the possible photoluminescence origin of carbon dots. In this study, a new kind of N, S co-doped carbon dots (NSCDs) was synthesized and the fluorescence of NSCDs was surprisingly found to be quenched by chlorophenols (CPs) in a pKa dependent mode. Detailed investigation of this behavior demonstrated that phenolate was the responsible species and N and/or S dopants in NSCDs failed to play a role in the fluorescence quenching. Further evidence uncovered that the quenching was a static one, where a non-fluorescent intermediate was formed between electron-deficient C=O on the CDs surface and the electron-rich phenolic oxygen anion of chlorophenolate via nucleophilic addition. Moreover, one of the main photoluminescence origins of this kind of CDs was derived, namely surface emissive sites mostly attributed to carbonyl groups.

Colorimetric detection of iron ions (III) based on the highly sensitive plasmonic response of the N-acetyl-L-cysteine-stabilized silver nanoparticles

We report here a facile colorimetric sensor based on the N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC)-stabilized Ag nanoparticles (NALC-Ag NPs) for detection of Fe(3+) ions in aqueous solution. The Ag NPs with an average diameter of 6.55±1.0 nm are successfully synthesized through a simple method using sodium borohydride as reducing agent and N-acetyl-L-cysteine as protecting ligand. The synthesized silver nanoparticles show a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) around 400 nm and the SPR intensity decreases with the increasing of Fe(3+) concentration in aqueous solution. Based on the linear relationship between SPR intensity and concentration of Fe(3+) ions, the as-synthesized water-soluble silver nanoparticles can be used for the sensitive and selective detection of Fe(3+) ions in water with a linear range from 80 nM to 80 μM and a detection limit of 80 nM. On the basis of the experimental results, a new detection mechanism of oxidation-reduction reaction between Ag NPs and Fe(3+) ions is proposed, which is different from previously reported mechanisms. Moreover, the NALC-Ag NPs could be applied to the detection of Fe(3+) ions in real environmental water samples.

One-step synthesis of fluorescent silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) and their application for cell imaging

Novel fluorescent silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal procedure using (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTES) as a silicon source and sodium ascorbate (SA) as a reducing agent.

DNA-modified graphene quantum dots as a sensing platform for detection of Hg2+in living cells

A facile method for detection of Hg²⁺in living cells based on DNA modified graphene quantum dots.

Fluorescent graphene quantum dots for biosensing and bioimaging

Graphene quantum dots with unique properties have great potential applications for biosensing and bioimaging.

An acid-free microwave approach to prepare highly luminescent boron-doped graphene quantum dots for cell imaging

Highly luminescent graphene quantum dots (GQDs) are obtained by restoring the defects of GQDs via incorporation of B atoms into the graphene framework, which exhibits great potential in bio-imaging.

Carbon dots based turn-on fluorescent probes for oxytetracycline hydrochloride sensing

A well-designed turn-on sensor has been constructed and used for the assay of oxytetracycline hydrochloride in real milk samples.

Electrochemical synthesis of small-sized red fluorescent graphene quantum dots as a bioimaging platform

We report water-soluble, 3 nm uniform-sized graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with red emission prepared by electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in K₂S₂O₈ solution. Such GQDs show a great potential as biological labels for cellular imaging.