Ratiometric Sensing of Intracellular pH Based on Dual Emissive Carbon Dots

Accurate monitoring of intracellular pH in living cells is critical for developing a better understanding of cellular activities. In the current study, label-free carbon dots (p-CDs), which were fabricated using a straightforward one-pot solvothermal treatment of p-phenylenediamine and urea, were employed to create a new ratiometric pH nanosensor. Under single-wavelength excitation (λ_ex = 500 nm), the p-CDs gave dual emission bands at 525 and 623 nm. The fluorescent intensity ratio (I₅₂₅/I₆₂₃) was linearly related to pH over the range 4.0 to 8.8 in buffer solutions, indicating that the ratiometric fluorescence nanoprobe may be useful for pH sensing. In pH measurements, the p-CDs also demonstrated outstanding selectivity, reversibility, and photostability. Owing to the advantages outlined above, the nanoprobe was used to monitor the pH of HeLa cells effectively. The label-free CD-based ratiometric nanoprobe features comparatively easy manufacturing and longer excitation and emission wavelengths than the majority of previously reported CD-based ratiometric pH sensors, which is ultimately beneficial for applications in biological imaging.

Carbon Dots-Based Logic Gates

Carbon dots (CDs)-based logic gates are smart nanoprobes that can respond to various analytes such as metal cations, anions, amino acids, pesticides, antioxidants, etc. Most of these logic gates are based on fluorescence techniques because they are inexpensive, give an instant response, and highly sensitive. Computations based on molecular logic can lead to advancement in modern science. This review focuses on different logic functions based on the sensing abilities of CDs and their synthesis. We also discuss the sensing mechanism of these logic gates and bring different types of possible logic operations. This review envisions that CDs-based logic gates have a promising future in computing nanodevices. In addition, we cover the advancement in CDs-based logic gates with the focus of understanding the fundamentals of how CDs have the potential for performing various logic functions depending upon their different categories.

Aqueous Phase Sensing of Fe3+ and Ascorbic Acid by a Metal-Organic Framework and Its Implication in the Construction of Multiple Logic Gates

A new Hf^IV -based metal-organic framework with UiO-66 topology was synthesized via a one-step solvothermal method by using 3-methyl-4-phenylthieno[2,3-b]thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (H₂ MPTDC) as a ligand. The MOF material showed a high stability in a broad pH range (from pH 2 to pH 12) in an aqueous medium. The presence of hydrophobic methyl and phenyl substituents in the carboxylic acid ligand and strong Hf-O bond play crucial roles in its stability. The new MOF material was systematically characterized by various techniques such as XRPD, N₂ sorption, thermogravimetric analyses and FT-IR spectroscopy. The photophysical properties of the MOF material were also examined by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence studies. It was observed that the blue fluorescence of the MOF material was selectively quenched in the presence of Fe³⁺ ion in pure aqueous medium. A mechanistic study disclosed that quenching occurs via a strong inner filter effect (IFE) arising from Fe³⁺ ion in aqueous medium. Interestingly, the fluorescence of the MOF material can be recovered by elimination of the IFE of Fe³⁺ ion via reduction of Fe³⁺ ion by ascorbic acid (AA). Based on the fluorescence recovery by AA, a MOF based on-off-on probe was developed for the sensing of Fe³⁺ ion and AA in aqueous medium. Inspired by this reversible sensing event, we demonstrate basic (NOT, OR, YES, INHIBIT and IMP) and higher integrated logic operations utilizing this fluorescent MOF. This MOF-based logic systems could be potentially used for next-generation logic-gate based analytical applications as well as for the detection and discrimination of targeted molecules in various complex domains.

Aggregation-induced red shift in N,S-doped chiral carbon dot emissions for moisture sensing

Herein, we report aggregation induced red shifted emissions in N,S-doped chiral carbon dots for moisture sensing in common organic solvents and commercial products.

Novel properties and applications of carbon nanodots

In the most recent decade, carbon dots have drawn intensive attention and triggered substantial investigation. Carbon dots manifest superior merits, including excellent biocompatibility both in vitro and in vivo, resistance to photobleaching, easy surface functionalization and bio-conjugation, outstanding colloidal stability, eco-friendly synthesis, and low cost. All of these endow them with the great potential to replace conventional unsatisfactory fluorescent heavy metal-containing semiconductor quantum dots or organic dyes. Even though the understanding of their photoluminescence mechanism is still controversial, carbon dots have already exhibited many versatile applications. In this article, we summarize and review the recent progress achieved in the field of carbon dots, and provide a comprehensive summary and discussion on their synthesis methods and emission mechanisms. We also present the applications of carbon dots in bioimaging, drug delivery, microfluidics, light emitting diode (LED), sensing, logic gates, and chiral photonics, etc. Some unaddressed issues, challenges, and future prospects of carbon dots are also discussed. We envision that carbon dots will eventually have great commercial utilization and will become a strong competitor to some currently used fluorescent materials. It is our hope that this review will provide insights into both the fundamental research and practical applications of carbon dots.

pH-Elicited Luminescence Functionalities of Carbon Dots: Mechanistic Insights

Remarkable and systematic pH-dependent changes are observed in the absorption and emission spectra of carbon dots derived for the first time from lemon juice, a natural bioresource. Detailed photophysical studies of these novel carbon dots (henceforth termed LD), in conjunction with Fourier transform infrared spectra, reveal that among the two possible prototropic equilibria, phenol ↔ phenolate and carboxylic ↔ carboxylate, that occur at the surface of LD, it is the former that is actually coupled with the emissive moiety and directly involved in determining the nature of the electronic energy levels and the associated optical transitions. Apart from providing valuable mechanistic insights on the photoluminescence (PL) of carbon dots, the pH dependence of LD is also demonstrated to yield variable PL signals and perform elementary Boolean logic operations in response to chemical stimulants. The pH effect can therefore complement the optoelectronic functionalities of these promising luminescent nanomaterials and help in the future development of molecular devices and intelligent multianalyte detection systems.

Cu2+-embedded carbon nanoparticles as anticancer agents

We report the synthesis of luminescent carbon nanoparticles (93 ± 50 nm) embedded with Cu²⁺. It was observed that at a relatively low concentration of Cu²⁺ (2.55 ppm), cervical cancer HeLa cells died due to apoptosis induced by the nanoparticles. Also, generation of reactive oxygen species in the cells, in the presence of the composite nanoparticles, has been attributed to their killing. The luminescence of the carbon nanoparticles was used for imaging of the cells.

Tumor cell responses to carbon dots derived from chondroitin sulfate

Photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs) derived from chondroitin sulfate (CS) showing multifunctional behavior: cell imaging and cell proliferative responses.