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Alafeef M, Srivastava I, Aditya T, Pan D. Carbon Dots: From Synthesis to Unraveling the Fluorescence Mechanism. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2303937. [PMID: 37715112 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) being a new type of carbon-based nanomaterial have attracted intensive interest from researchers owing to their excellent biophysical properties. CDs are a class of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials that have emerged as a promising alternative to traditional quantum dots and organic dyes in applications including bioimaging, sensing, and optoelectronics. CDs possess unique optical properties, such as tunable emission, facile synthesis, and low toxicity, making them attractive for many applications in biology, medicine, and environmental areas. The synthesis of CDs is achievable by a variety of methods, including bottom-up and top-down approaches, involving the use of different carbon sources and surface functionalization strategies. However, understanding the fluorescence mechanism of CDs remains a challenge. Various mechanistic models have been proposed to explain their origin of luminescence. This review summarizes the recent developments in the synthesis and functionalization of CDs and provides an overview of the current understanding of the fluorescence mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alafeef
- Bioengineering Department, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
- Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Indrajit Srivastava
- Bioengineering Department, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
- Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Teresa Aditya
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
- Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Bioengineering Department, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
- Department of Nuclear Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
- Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, 16801, USA
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2
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Ostadhossein F, Moitra P, Alafeef M, Sar D, D’Souza S, Benig LF, Nelappana M, Huang X, Soares J, Zhang K, Pan D. Ensemble and single-particle level fluorescent fine-tuning of carbon dots via positional changes of amines toward "supervised" oral microbiome sensing. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2023; 28:082807. [PMID: 37427335 PMCID: PMC10324603 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.28.8.082807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Significance Carbon dots (CDs) have attracted a host of research interest in recent years mainly due to their unique photoluminescence (PL) properties that make them applicable in various biomedical areas, such as imaging and image-guided therapy. However, the real mechanism underneath the PL is a subject of wide controversy and can be investigated from various angles. Aim Our work investigates the effect of the isomeric nitrogen position as the precursor in the synthesis of CDs by shedding light on their photophysical properties on the single particles and ensemble level. Approach To this end, we adopted five isomers of diaminopyridine (DAP) and urea as the precursors and obtained CDs during a hydrothermal process. The various photophysical properties were further investigated in depth by mass spectroscopy. CD molecular frontier orbital analyses aided us in justifying the fluorescence emission profile on the bulk level as well as the charge transfer processes. As a result of the varying fluorescent responses, we indicate that these particles can be utilized for machine learning (ML)-driven sensitive detection of oral microbiota. The sensing results were further supported by density functional theoretical calculations and docking studies. Results The generating isomers have a significant effect on the overall photophysical properties at the bulk/ensembled level. On the single-particle level, although some of the photophysical properties such as average intensity remained the same, the overall differences in brightness, photo-blinking frequency, and bleaching time between the five samples were conceived. The various photophysical properties could be explained based on the different chromophores formed during the synthesis. Overall, an array of CDs was demonstrated herein to achieve ∼ 100 % separation efficacy in segregating a mixed oral microbiome culture in a rapid (< 0.5 h ), high-throughput manner with superior accuracy. Conclusions We have indicated that the PL properties of CDs can be regulated by the precursors' isomeric position of nitrogen. We emancipated this difference in a rapid method relying on ML algorithms to segregate the dental bacterial species as biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Ostadhossein
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, State College, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Maha Alafeef
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, State College, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Dinabandhu Sar
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Shannon D’Souza
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Lily F. Benig
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Michael Nelappana
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Xuedong Huang
- Fudan University, Department of Chemistry, Shanghai, China
| | - Julio Soares
- University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign, Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Kai Zhang
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Biochemistry, Urbana, Illinois, United States
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Department of Bioengineering, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- Carle Foundation Hospital, Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Beckman Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Urbana, Illinois, United States
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Nuclear Engineering, State College, Pennsylvania, United States
- The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
- The Materials Research Institute, Millennium Science Complex, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
- Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, University Park, Pennsylvania, United States
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Lagos KJ, García D, Cuadrado CF, de Souza LM, Mezzacappo NF, da Silva AP, Inada N, Bagnato V, Romero MP. Carbon dots: Types, preparation, and their boosted antibacterial activity by photoactivation. Current status and future perspectives. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2023:e1887. [PMID: 37100045 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs) correspond to carbon-based materials (CBM) with sizes usually below 10 nm. These nanomaterials exhibit attractive properties such us low toxicity, good stability, and high conductivity, which have promoted their thorough study over the past two decades. The current review describes four types of CDs: carbon quantum dots (CQDs), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), carbon nanodots (CNDs), and carbonized polymers dots (CPDs), together with the state of the art of the main routes for their preparation, either by "top-down" or "bottom-up" approaches. Moreover, among the various usages of CDs within biomedicine, we have focused on their application as a novel class of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, concretely, owing their photoactivation capability that triggers an enhanced antibacterial property. Our work presents the recent advances in this field addressing CDs, their composites and hybrids, applied as photosensitizers (PS), and photothermal agents (PA) within antibacterial strategies such as photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and synchronic PDT/PTT. Furthermore, we discuss the prospects for the possible future development of large-scale preparation of CDs, and the potential for these nanomaterials to be employed in applications to combat other pathogens harmful to human health. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina J Lagos
- Department of Materials, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Quito, Ecuador
| | - David García
- Department of Materials, Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN), Quito, Ecuador
| | | | | | | | - Ana Paula da Silva
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Natalia Inada
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Vanderlei Bagnato
- São Carlos Institute of Physics, University of São Paulo (USP), São Carlos, Brazil
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4
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Watt MM, Moitra P, Sheffield Z, Ostadhossein F, Maxwell EA, Pan D. A narrative review on the role of carbon nanoparticles in oncology. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 15:e1845. [PMID: 35975704 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The lymphatic system is the first site of metastasis for most tumors and is a common reason for the failure of cancer therapy. The lymphatic system's anatomical properties make it difficult to deliver chemotherapy agents at therapeutic concentrations while avoiding systemic toxicity. Carbon nanoparticles offer a promising alternative for identifying and transporting therapeutic molecules. The larger diameter of lymphatic vessels compared to the diameter of blood vessels, allows carbon nanoparticles to selectively enter the lymphatic system once administered subcutaneously. Carbon nanoparticles stain tumor-draining lymph nodes black following intratumoral injection, making them useful in sentinel lymph node mapping. Drug-loaded carbon nanoparticles allow higher concentrations of chemotherapeutics to accumulate in regional lymph nodes while decreasing plasma drug accumulation. The use of carbon nanoparticles for chemotherapy delivery has been associated with lower mortality, fewer histopathology changes in vital organs, and lower serum concentrations of hepatocellular enzymes. This review will focus on the ability of carbon nanoparticles to target the lymphatics as well as their current and potential applications in sentinel lymph node mapping and oncology treatment regimens. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanoscale Tools and Techniques in Surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan M Watt
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, Health Sciences Facility III, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zach Sheffield
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Fatemeh Ostadhossein
- Department of Bioengineering, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Maxwell
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis, Health Sciences Facility III, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, Illinois, USA.,Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Health Sciences Facility III, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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5
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Fathi P, Roslend A, Alafeef M, Moitra P, Dighe K, Esch MB, Pan D. In Situ Surface-Directed Assembly of 2D Metal Nanoplatelets for Drug-Free Treatment of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. Adv Healthc Mater 2022; 11:e2102567. [PMID: 35856392 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202102567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The development of antibiotic resistance among bacterial strains is a major global public health concern. To address this, drug-free antibacterial approaches are needed. Copper surfaces have long been known for their antibacterial properties. In this work, a one-step surface modification technique is used to assemble 2D copper chloride nanoplatelets directly onto copper surfaces such as copper tape, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grids, electrodes, and granules. The nanoplatelets are formed using copper ions from the copper surfaces, enabling their direct assembly onto these surfaces in a one-step process that does not require separate nanoparticle synthesis. The synthesis of the nanoplatelets is confirmed with TEM, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Antibacterial properties of the Cu nanoplatelets are demonstrated in multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli, MDR Acinetobacter baumannii, MDR Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and Streptococcus mutans. Nanoplatelets lead to a marked improvement in antibacterial properties compared to the copper surfaces alone, affecting bacterial cell morphology, preventing bacterial cell division, reducing their viability, damaging bacterial DNA, and altering protein expression. This work presents a robust method to directly assemble copper nanoplatelets onto any copper surface to imbue it with improved antibacterial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Fathi
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ayman Roslend
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Maha Alafeef
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.,Department of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.,Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Department of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Ketan Dighe
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA
| | - Mandy B Esch
- Biomedical Technologies Group, Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, Physical Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.,Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, 21250, USA.,Department of Nuclear Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Huck Institutes for the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
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Barrientos K, Arango JP, Moncada MS, Placido J, Patiño J, Macías SL, Maldonado C, Torijano S, Bustamante S, Londoño ME, Jaramillo M. Carbon dot-based biosensors for the detection of communicable and non -communicable diseases. Talanta 2022; 251:123791. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Sar D, Ostadhossein F, Moitra P, Alafeef M, Pan D. Small Molecule NIR-II Dyes for Switchable Photoluminescence via Host -Guest Complexation and Supramolecular Assembly with Carbon Dots. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2202414. [PMID: 35657032 PMCID: PMC9353451 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Small molecular NIR-II dyes are highly desirable for various biomedical applications. However, NIR-II probes are still limited due to the complex synthetic processes and inadequate availability of fluorescent core. Herein, the design and synthesis of three small molecular NIR-II dyes are reported. These dyes can be excited at 850-915 nm and emitted at 1280-1290 nm with a large stokes shift (≈375 nm). Experimental and computational results indicate a 2:1 preferable host-guest assembly between the cucurbit[8]uril (CB) and dye molecules. Interestingly, the dyes when self-assembled in presence of CB leads to the formation of nanocubes (≈200 nm) and exhibits marked enhancement in fluorescence emission intensity (Switch-On). However, the addition of red carbon dots (rCDots, ≈10 nm) quenches the fluorescence of these host-guest complexes (Switch-Off) providing flexibility in the user-defined tuning of photoluminescence. The turn-ON complex found to have comparable quantum yield to the commercially available near-infrared fluorophore, IR-26. The aqueous dispersibility, cellular and blood compatibility, and NIR-II bioimaging capability of the inclusion complexes is also explored. Thus, a switchable fluorescence behavior, driven by host-guest complexation and supramolecular self-assembly, is demonstrated here for three new NIR-II dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinabandhu Sar
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Fatemeh Ostadhossein
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Department of PediatricsCenter for Blood Oxygen Transport and HemostasisUniversity of Maryland Baltimore School of MedicineHealth Sciences Research Facility III670 W Baltimore St.BaltimoreMD21201USA
| | - Maha Alafeef
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of PediatricsCenter for Blood Oxygen Transport and HemostasisUniversity of Maryland Baltimore School of MedicineHealth Sciences Research Facility III670 W Baltimore St.BaltimoreMD21201USA
- Department of ChemicalBiochemical and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyInterdisciplinary Health Sciences Facility1000 Hilltop CircleBaltimoreMD21250USA
- Biomedical Engineering DepartmentJordan University of Science and TechnologyIrbid22110Jordan
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Bioengineering DepartmentUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIL61801USA
- Department of PediatricsCenter for Blood Oxygen Transport and HemostasisUniversity of Maryland Baltimore School of MedicineHealth Sciences Research Facility III670 W Baltimore St.BaltimoreMD21201USA
- Department of ChemicalBiochemical and Environmental EngineeringUniversity of Maryland Baltimore CountyInterdisciplinary Health Sciences Facility1000 Hilltop CircleBaltimoreMD21250USA
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear MedicineUniversity of Maryland Baltimore School of MedicineHealth Sciences Research Facility III670 W Baltimore St.BaltimoreMD21201USA
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8
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Effects of local matrix environment on the spectroscopic properties of ensemble to single-particle level carbon dots. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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9
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Kim Y, Park Y, Han S, Park W, Kim M, Kim K, Joo J, Hahn SK, Kwon W. Radiative and Non-Radiative Decay Pathways in Carbon Nanodots toward Bioimaging and Photodynamic Therapy. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 12:70. [PMID: 35010020 PMCID: PMC8746803 DOI: 10.3390/nano12010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The origin and classification of energy states, as well as the electronic transitions and energy transfers associated with them, have been recognized as critical factors for understanding the optical properties of carbon nanodots (CNDs). Herein, we report the synthesis of CNDs in an optimized process that allows low-temperature carbonization using ethanolamine as the major precursor and citric acid as an additive. The results obtained herein suggest that the energy states in our CNDs can be classified into four different types based on their chemical origin: carbogenic core states, surface defective states, molecular emissive states, and non-radiative trap states. Each energy state is associated with the occurrence of different types of emissions in the visible to near-infrared (NIR) range and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The potential pathways of radiative/non-radiative transitions in CNDs have been systematically studied using visible-to-NIR emission spectroscopy and fluorescence decay measurements. Furthermore, the bright photoluminescence and ROS generation of these CNDs render them suitable for in vitro imaging and photodynamic therapy applications. We believe that these new insights into the energy states of CNDs will result in significant improvements in other applications, such as photocatalysis and optoelectronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujin Kim
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (Y.K.); (Y.P.)
| | - Yoonsang Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (Y.K.); (Y.P.)
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Systems, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea
| | - Seulgi Han
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (S.H.); (W.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Wonchan Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (S.H.); (W.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Mungu Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (S.H.); (W.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Kyunghwan Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Korea;
| | - Jinmyoung Joo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Korea;
| | - Sei Kwang Hahn
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Korea; (S.H.); (W.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Woosung Kwon
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea; (Y.K.); (Y.P.)
- Institute of Advanced Materials and Systems, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Korea
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10
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Wei Z, Wang B, Hong D, Xie M, Wan S, Yang W, Lu S, Tian Y. Rational Building of Nonblinking Carbon Dots via Charged State Recovery. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:8614-8620. [PMID: 34469165 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c02594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs), as emerging luminescent nanomaterials, possess excellent but complex properties, and thus, they have attracted immense attention for their applications. Further practical application of CDs has been hindered by their limited photostability and photoluminescence intermittency. In this study, we demonstrated that an antioxidant (Trolox) can dramatically enhance the photostability and minimize the photoblinking of CDs without affecting their native spectral characteristics. Significant photoluminescence enhancement and stabilization were observed with the addition of Trolox in ensemble level. Meanwhile, strikingly stable emissions from individual CDs have been observed in the presence of Trolox in single-particle-level experiments. Our observations revealed that the charged state of CDs can be effectively recovered to a neutral state by Trolox via electron transfer. These results prove that the combination of antioxidants and CDs is a powerful means to improve their fluorescence robustness, which is crucial for applications that demand long-lived, nonblinking emission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Wei
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Vehicle Emissions Control, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Boyang Wang
- Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Daocheng Hong
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224051, China
| | - Mingcai Xie
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Vehicle Emissions Control, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Sushu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Vehicle Emissions Control, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Weiqing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Vehicle Emissions Control, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Siyu Lu
- Green Catalysis Center and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Yuxi Tian
- Key Laboratory of Mesoscopic Chemistry of MOE, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Vehicle Emissions Control, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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11
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Fathi P, Moitra P, McDonald MM, Esch MB, Pan D. Near-infrared emitting dual-stimuli-responsive carbon dots from endogenous bile pigments. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:13487-13496. [PMID: 34477753 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr01295a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Carbon dots are biocompatible nanoparticles suitable for a variety of biomedical applications. Careful selection of carbon dot precursors and surface modification techniques has allowed for the development of carbon dots with strong near-infrared fluorescence emission. However, carbon dots that provide strong fluorescence contrast would prove even more useful if they were also responsive to stimuli. In this work, endogenous bile pigments bilirubin (BR) and biliverdin (BV) were used for the first time to synthesize stimuli-responsive carbon dots (BR-CDots and BV-CDots respectively). The precursor choice lends these carbon dots spectroscopic characteristics that are enzyme-responsive and pH-responsive without the need for surface modifications post-synthesis. Both BV- and BR-CDots are water-dispersible and provide fluorescence contrast, while retaining the stimuli-responsive behaviors intrinsic to their precursors. Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis revealed that the hydrodynamic size of the BR-CDots and BV-CDots decreased with exposure to bilirubin oxidase and biliverdin reductase, respectively, indicating potential enzyme-responsive degradation of the carbon dots. Fluorescence spectroscopic data demonstrate that both BR-CDots and BV-CDots exhibit changes in their fluorescence spectra in response to changes in pH, indicating that these carbon dots have potential applications in pH sensing. In addition, BR-CDots are biocompatible and provide near-infrared fluorescence emission when excited with light at wavelengths of 600 nm or higher. This work demonstrates the use of rationally selected carbon sources for obtaining near-infrared fluorescence and stimuli-responsive behavior in carbon dots that also provide strong fluorescence contrast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Fathi
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, 61801, USA
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Ray P, Moitra P, Pan D. Emerging theranostic applications of carbon dots and its variants. VIEW 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20200089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Ray
- Department of Chemical Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine University of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Chemical Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Pediatrics Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Department of Chemical Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering University of Maryland Baltimore County Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Pediatrics Center for Blood Oxygen Transport and Hemostasis University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine Baltimore Maryland USA
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine University of Maryland Baltimore Baltimore Maryland USA
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Fathi P, Roslend A, Mehta K, Moitra P, Zhang K, Pan D. UV-trained and metal-enhanced fluorescence of biliverdin and biliverdin nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:4785-4798. [PMID: 33434263 PMCID: PMC9297654 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08485a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Increasing the fluorescence quantum yield of fluorophores is of great interest for in vitro and in vivo biomedical imaging applications. At the same time, photobleaching and photodegradation resulting from continuous exposure to light are major considerations in the translation of fluorophores from research applications to industrial or healthcare applications. A number of tetrapyrrolic compounds, such as heme and its derivatives, are known to provide fluorescence contrast. In this work, we found that biliverdin (BV), a naturally-occurring tetrapyrrolic fluorophore, exhibits an increase in fluorescence quantum yield, without exhibiting photobleaching or degradation, in response to continuous ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. We attribute this increased fluorescence quantum yield to photoisomerization and conformational changes in BV in response to UV irradiation. This enhanced fluorescence can be further altered by chelating BV with metals. UV irradiation of BV led to an approximately 10-fold increase in its 365 nm fluorescence quantum yield, and the most favorable combination of UV irradiation and metal chelation led to an approximately 18.5-fold increase in its 365 nm fluorescence quantum yield. We also evaluated these stimuli-responsive behaviors in biliverdin nanoparticles (BVNPs) at the bulk-state and single-particle level. We determined that UV irradiation led to an approximately 2.4-fold increase in BVNP 365 nm quantum yield, and the combination of UV irradiation and metal chelation led to up to a 6.75-fold increase in BVNP 365 nm quantum yield. Altogether, these findings suggest that UV irradiation and metal chelation can be utilized alone or in combination to tailor the fluorescence behavior of imaging probes such as BV and BVNPs at selected wavelengths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Fathi
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
| | - Ayman Roslend
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
| | - Kritika Mehta
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. and Departments of Diagnostic Radiology Nuclear Medicine, Pediatrics, and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland School of Medicine and University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Alafeef M, Moitra P, Pan D. Nano-enabled sensing approaches for pathogenic bacterial detection. Biosens Bioelectron 2020; 165:112276. [PMID: 32729465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2020.112276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, especially antibiotic-resistant bacteria, are one of the biggest threats to global health. To date, bacterial contamination is detected using conventional culturing techniques, which are highly dependent on expert users, limited by the processing time and on-site availability. Hence, real-time and continuous monitoring of pathogen levels is required to obtain valuable information that could assist health agencies in guiding prevention and containment of pathogen-related outbreaks. Nanotechnology-based smart sensors are opening new avenues for early and rapid detection of such pathogens at the patient's point-of-care. Nanomaterials can play an essential role in bacterial sensing owing to their unique optical, magnetic, and electrical properties. Carbon nanoparticles, metallic nanoparticles, metal oxide nanoparticles, and various types of nanocomposites are examples of smart nanomaterials that have drawn intense attention in the field of microbial detection. These approaches, together with the advent of modern technologies and coupled with machine learning and wireless communication, represent the future trend in the diagnosis of infectious diseases. This review provides an overview of the recent advancements in the successful harnessing of different nanoparticles for bacterial detection. In the beginning, we have introduced the fundamental concepts and mechanisms behind the design and strategies of the nanoparticles-based diagnostic platform. Representative research efforts are highlighted for in vitro and in vivo detection of bacteria. A comprehensive discussion is then presented to cover the most commonly adopted techniques for bacterial identification, including some seminal studies to detect bacteria at the single-cell level. Finally, we discuss the current challenges and a prospective outlook on the field, together with the recommended solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Alafeef
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States; Biomedical Engineering Department, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan; Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Parikshit Moitra
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Bioengineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, United States; Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States; Department of Chemical, Biochemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hiltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21250, United States.
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Fathi P, Pan D. Current trends in pyrrole and porphyrin-derived nanoscale materials for biomedical applications. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2020; 15:2493-2515. [PMID: 32975469 PMCID: PMC7610151 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2020-0125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This article is written to provide an up-to-date review of pyrrole-based biomedical materials. Porphyrins and other tetrapyrrolic molecules possess unique magnetic, optical and other photophysical properties that make them useful for bioimaging and therapy. This review touches briefly on some of the synthetic strategies to obtain porphyrin- and tetrapyrrole-based nanoparticles, as well as the variety of applications in which crosslinked, self-assembled, porphyrin-coated and other nanoparticles are utilized. We explore examples of these nanoparticles' applications in photothermal therapy, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, stimuli response, fluorescence imaging, photoacoustic imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and positron emission tomography. We anticipate that this review will provide a comprehensive summary of pyrrole-derived nanoparticles and provide a guideline for their further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parinaz Fathi
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science & Engineering & Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Departments of Bioengineering, Materials Science & Engineering & Beckman Institute, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
- Departments of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine & Pediatrics, University of Maryland Baltimore, Health Sciences Facility III, 670 W Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Department of Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Facility, 1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
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Nguyen HA, Srivastava I, Pan D, Gruebele M. Unraveling the Fluorescence Mechanism of Carbon Dots with Sub-Single-Particle Resolution. ACS NANO 2020; 14:6127-6137. [PMID: 32324372 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c01924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Unlike quantum dots, photophysical properties of carbon dots (CDs) are not strongly correlated with particle size. The origin of CD photoluminescence has been related to sp2 domain size and the abundance of oxidized surface defects. However, direct imaging of surface-accessible spatially localized oxidized defects is still lacking. In this work, solvothermal-synthesized CDs are fractionated into different colors by polarity-based chromatography. We then study the mechanism of CD fluorescence by directly imaging individual CDs with subparticle resolution by scanning tunneling microscopy. Density of states imaging of CDs reveals that the graphitic core has a large bandgap that is inconsistent with observed fluorescence wavelength, whereas localized defects have smaller electronic gaps for both red-emitting dots (rCDs) and blue-emitting dots (bCDs). For individual bCDs within our laser tuning range, we directly image optically active surface defects (ca. 1-3 nm in size) and their bandgaps, which agree with the emission wavelength of the ensemble from which the bCDs were taken. We find that the emissive defects are not necessarily the ones with the smallest gap, consistent with quantum yields less than unity (0.1-0.26). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and pH-dependent fluorescence titration show that oxygen-containing surface-accessible protonatable functional groups (e.g., phenolic -OH, -COOH) define the chemical identity of the defects. This observation explains why we detect neither long-lived optical excitation of the core nor a correlation between size and emission wavelength. Instead, control over the number of oxygen-containing defects defines the emission wavelength, with more oxidized defects at the surface producing redder emission wavelengths.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Indrajit Srivastava
- Mills Breast Cancer Institute, Carle Foundation Hospital, 509 West University Avenue, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Dipanjan Pan
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Martin Gruebele
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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Abstract
Unexpectedly bright photoluminescence emission can be observed in materials incorporating inorganic carbon when their size is reduced from macro–micro to nano. At present, there is no consensus in its understanding, and many suggested explanations are not consistent with the broad range of experimental data. In this Review, I discuss the possible role of collective excitations (excitons) generated by resonance electronic interactions among the chromophore elements within these nanoparticles. The Förster-type resonance energy transfer (FRET) mechanism of energy migration within nanoparticles operates when the composing fluorophores are the localized electronic systems interacting at a distance. Meanwhile, the resonance interactions among closely located fluorophores may lead to delocalization of the excited states over many molecules resulting in Frenkel excitons. The H-aggregate-type quantum coherence originating from strong coupling among the transition dipoles of adjacent chromophores in a co-facial stacking arrangement and exciton transport to emissive traps are the basis of the presented model. It can explain most of the hitherto known experimental observations and must stimulate the progress towards their versatile applications.
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