Fluorescent carbon dots from cumin seeds: preparation, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility test for cell imaging application

doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3729016/v1

Download PDF

Research Article

Fluorescent carbon dots from cumin seeds: preparation, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility test for cell imaging application

https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3729016/v1

This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License

Journal Publication

published 06 Apr, 2024

Read the published version in Journal of Cluster Science →

You are reading this latest preprint version

Carbon dots (CDs) are a new type of nanomaterial with great potential in bioimaging, biosensing, and drug delivery. In this study, novel CDs were prepared from cumin seeds (Cuminum cyminum L) by pyrolysis. The pyrolysis method and several extraction steps were optimized to fabricate CDs from cumin seeds. The size, structure, chemical composition, and photoluminescence properties of the CDs were characterized using a size analyzer, TEM, SEM, EDX, UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and FTIR. The influences of the CDs on cell viability were investigated in A549, 3T3, and MCF-7 cell lines via MTT assay. The cancer cell imaging potential of the CDs was assessed using fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that the CDs with a mean diameter of 13.42 nm could be obtained through the pyrolysis of cumin seeds. The obtained CDs exhibited strong and unique fluorescence properties once they were excited at different wavelengths, particularly at 350 nm. The CDs were highly stable over time, and their fluorescence properties remained unchanged after three months. Apart from the physicochemical properties of the CD, cell viability assays showed that these CDs were non-toxic to A549, MCF-7, and 3T3 cells, over 90% of the cells were viable after 24 h, even at the highest concentration (1000 µg/ml). The CDs successfully penetrated the MCF-7 cells as revealed by fluorescent images. Taken together, the fluorescent CDs derived from cumin seeds indicated excellent and stable fluorescence properties. In addition, these CDs were highly biocompatible and could be a potential option for theragnostic applications.

Carbon dots

Pyrolysis

Cuminum cyminum

Cytotoxicity

Cell imaging

These days, we witness a burgeoning interest in nanomaterials which is driven by their wide applications and carbon nanomaterials have been at the forefront of this growing interest.

Carbon-based nanomaterials have fascinating characteristics including structural diversity, high surface area-to-volume ratio, easy functionalization, peculiar optical properties, and high biocompatibility, making them appropriate for a broad range of applications, particularly biomedicine. There is impressive diversity among carbon-based nanomaterials. Among different carbon structures on the nanoscale (e.g., graphene, carbon fibers, and carbon nanotubes), carbon dots (CDs) have drawn keen interest from researchers in recent years [1]. CDs are zero-dimensional carbon nanostructures that were discovered during the process of purifying single-walled carbon nanotubes through electrophoresis [2]. CDs represent a novel form of carbon-based nanomaterials with high biocompatibility, water-solubility, photostability, high electrical conductivity, and unique photoluminescent properties [3]. In recent years, CDs have received a great deal of attention in biomedicine considering their brilliant properties [4]. CDs are quasi-spherical carbon nanoparticles with sizes below 10 nm, having high potential for use in bioimaging, drug and gene delivery, photodynamic therapy, biosensing, nanothermometers, and metal ion detection [5–9].

Numerous techniques have been developed to fabricate CDs, such as laser ablation, electrochemical, ultrasonic, microwave-assisted, solvothermal, hydrothermal, and combustion (thermal)-supported methods, from various starting precursors [10]. However, most of these techniques have certain drawbacks, such as complicated equipment, laborious, expensive raw materials, post-treatment processes, toxic chemicals, and harmful experimental conditions, which are not only time-consuming but also entail high expenses [11]. Among these methods, the pyrolysis method, combustion (thermal)-supported method, is a facile, environmentally friendly, and low-cost production technique for preparing CDs. It is a non-reversible reaction in which carbon-based materials undergo decomposition through heat in an inert environment. During this process, solid black carbon residues are formed through physical and chemical changes [12]. Plants have the potential to be utilized as a carbon source for producing CD, offering a number of benefits, such as low chemical exposure, renewable and abundant resources, low cost, waste reduction, and scalability [13].

Different plant parts (e.g., seeds, leaves, and roots) can be employed for fabricating green CDs. Through the fabrication of CDs by green methods, low-value components can be transformed into biocompatible and applicable components [14]. Moreover, these CDs have a large number of carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on their surface, making the functionalization of CDs straightforward for drug delivery and bio-labeling purposes.

Using different parts of plants as a carbon source not only provides large-scale production of CDs but also develops their applications [10]. It is noteworthy that when plant parts are used, there is no need for an extra reactant for post-modification, doping, or surface passivation since the presence of various biomolecules (e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids) offers a rich source of elements for functionalizing the surfaces of CDs. In comparison to chemical substances, these plant-derived materials provide a greater number of components for surface modification [15]. Taken together, green synthesis methods are more appropriate than chemical and physical techniques [16]. To date, various parts of plants have been used for the preparation of CDs, such as cranberry beans [17], fennel seeds [18], avocado seeds [19], and star fruit [20]. Green cumin (Cuminum cyminum L) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae with a wide range of pharmacological properties [21]. Considering there has not been any report on cumin-derived CDs and the fascinating properties of green CDs, this study aimed to synthesize CDs from cumin seeds using the pyrolysis method and evaluate their physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity (against 3T3, MCF-7, and A549 cells), and cell imaging potential.

2.1 Materials

Cumin seeds were purchased from a local grocery store and their identity was confirmed scientifically. 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and penicillin-streptomycin solution (100X), were purchased from Sigma–Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Dialysis membrane with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) equal to 1000 Da was obtained from Spectrum Chemical Mfg. Corp. labs (New Brunswick, USA). The proposal for this study received approval from the ethical committee of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This study was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines, and the approval code assigned to the study was IR.KMU.REC.1399.066.

2.2 Synthesis of CDs

In the initial stage, in order to determine the optimal method for synthesizing cumin seeds-derived CDs, three methods including microwave, hydrothermal, and pyrolysis were evaluated. In all methods, cumin seeds were washed, dried at room temperature (25° C), and powdered. In order to prepare CDs using the hydrothermal method, 10 g of cumin seeds powder was dissolved in 200 ml of deionized water and the resultant mixture was exposed to heat of 250°C for 6 h while for the microwave method, the same mixture was subjected to microwave radiation for 5 min. Then, considering the results, the pyrolysis method was selected for synthesizing CDs from cumin seeds. The CDs were fabricated from cumin seeds through the pyrolysis method as illustrated in Fig. 1. For this purpose, the prepared cumin seed powder was placed in a muffle furnace (Fan Azma Gostar, Iran) at 350° C for 75 min. Afterward, 1 g of burnt powder was soaked in 200 mL of deionized water and then the mixture was subjected to sonication for 30 min. The resulting mixture was boiled for 2 h until the solution turned yellowish-brown. In order to purify the obtained CDs, the solution containing the CDs was centrifuged at 13,000 rpm for 45 min. Then, in order to precipitate large particles, the obtained supernatant was centrifuged at 20,000 rpm for 20 min. Finally, the resultant solution underwent further purification by dialyzing against deionized water. This process was performed for 48 h at 25 C° using a 1000 Da MWCO membrane. The resulting clear yellowish-brown aqueous solution containing the CDs was kept at 4°C for further use.

2.3 Characterization of the CD

The optical characteristics of the CDs were investigated via a UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-1800, Shimadzu CO, Japan) within the wavelength range of 190–800 nm. The hydrodynamic size of the CDs was determined using a Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) analyzer (VASCOTM, Cordouan Technologies, France). The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum of the oven-dried CDs was obtained in the region of 4000–500 cm⁻¹ by an FTIR spectrophotometer (Bruker Optical, MA, USA).

In order to assess the elemental composition of the CDs, an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) assay was performed on the CDs deposited onto a copper grid using an EDX detector. The morphology of the CDs was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) (FEI, USA) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM ZEISS Sigma 300, Germany). The fluorescence intensity was measured by spectrofluorometer (FDU-3, Shimadzu, Japan). For cell imaging, an inverted fluorescence microscope (Nikon, Japan) was utilized.

2.4 Cytotoxicity assessment of the CDs

The cytotoxicity of CDs was assessed against the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line (T3T), the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), and the adenocarcinoma human alveolar basal epithelial cell line (A549). The cells were cultured in DMEM growth medium containing penicillin 100 unit/mL, streptomycin 100 µg/mL, and FBS (10%) in the standard condition, a humidified atmosphere (5% CO₂) at 37°C.

The cytotoxic effects of the cumin-derived CDs were determined through the MTT assay, a method that assesses cell viability. MTT colorimetric assay is based on the conversion of the tetrazolium salt into an insoluble purple-colored formazan dye by the dehydrogenase enzyme present in the mitochondria of viable cells while nonviable cells are not able to convert tetrazolium salts into formazan crystals. Thus, the number of viable cells is directly proportional to the optical intensity of the purple color produced in viable cells, allowing for an evaluation of cytotoxicity. Initially, cells (T3T, A549, and MCF-7) were seeded at a density of 10⁴ cells/well in 96-well plates and incubated overnight to ensure cell attachment. Subsequently, these cells were exposed to varying concentrations of CDs, ranging from 7.8 to 1000 µg/ml, for a duration of 24 h. In the next step, 10 µl of MTT solution with a concentration equal to 5 mg/ml was inserted into each well. When cells were incubated for 4 h, in order to dissolve formed formazan crystals, the medium of each well was discarded and replaced with 100 µl of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Ultimately, the absorbance of each well was measured at 570 nm by an ELISA plate reader (BioTekELx800, USA) to assess cell viability and cytotoxicity. Of note, as the positive control, doxorubicin with a concentration equal to 8µg/ml was employed in this test. Each sample was repeated 12 times (n = 12) and the resulting data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD).

2.5 In vitro cancer cell imaging

In order to evaluate the cancer cell imaging potential of the CDs, MCF-7 cells were chosen as the cancer cell model. Initially, being seeded in a 96-well plate with a density of 10⁴ cells per well, MCF-7 cells were incubated for 24 h at 37°C in a humidified atmosphere with 5% CO₂. Thereafter, the medium of cells was replaced with a fresh growth medium containing CDs (500 µg/ml) for 4 h. Ultimately, being washed twice with PBS, cells were imaged using a Nikon fluorescence microscope.

3.1 Characterization of as-prepared CDs

3.1.1 Photoluminescence properties

Initially, in order to find an appropriate approach for fabricating CDs from cumin seeds, the intensity of fluorescence emitted from CDs produced by three different methods, including hydrothermal, microwave, and pyrolysis methods, was compared. According to Fig. 2 and Table 1, the CDs obtained via pyrolysis showed remarkable fluorescence intensity at excitation wavelengths of 360 and 488 nm, which are the most common excitation wavelengths for quantum dots, compared to the CDs synthesized through hydrothermal and microwave methods. Therefore, based on the results in this stage, the cumin seeds-derived CDs, which were produced through pyrolysis, were selected for subsequent analysis and further experiments.

Table 1

Comparison of fluorescence intensity emitted from the CDs produced through hydrothermal and pyrolysis methods from cumin seeds under an excitation wavelength of 360 nm and 480 nm by an ELISA plate reader.
Excitation & Emission wavelength	Fluorescence intensity
Excitation & Emission wavelength	Control (water)	Hydrothermal	Microwave	Pyrolysis
Excitation at 360 nm Emission at 460 nm	19	21	23	8352
Excitation at 360 nm Emission at 528 nm	5	6	6	1632
Excitation at 360 nm Emission at 620 nm	3	5	3	560
Excitation at 480 nm Emission at 528 nm	1	N.A.	N.A.	406
Excitation at 480 nm Emission at 620 nm	0	N.A.	N.A.	313
N.A: Not available

The luminescent properties of the CDs were investigated in this study. Being exposed to UV light (365 nm), the aqueous solution of CDs emitted strong blue fluorescence. This indicates that the obtained CDs exhibited strong luminescence, as shown in Fig. 3a. According to the UV–Vis absorption spectrum, the CDs solution indicated a broad absorption spectrum with a slight peak at around 250 nm (Fig. 3b).

The intensity of fluorescence emitted by the CDs at different excitation wavelengths was analyzed using a spectrofluorometer. As shown, being excited at 350 nm, the CDs exhibited the highest fluorescence intensity at around 450 nm (Fig. 3c). In terms of photo-stability, there were no noticeable changes in the fluorescence emission spectrum of the CDs even after a three-month period (Fig. 3d).

3.1.2 Morphology and size assessment

The structure and morphology of cumin seeds-derived CDs were evaluated by SEM and TEM. Figure 4a and Fig. 4b exhibit TEM images of the CDs, which appear in two forms of cubic and spherical. Figure 4c-e, also provide SEM images of CDs that were deposited on the grid. As shown in Table 2, the CDs’ size distribution was between 9.29 nm and 18.58 nm with an average size of 13.42 nm. Of note, the mean diameter of the CDs did not change after three months of incubation, indicating their high colloidal stability (Table 2).

Table 2

Size changes of as-prepared CDs over time.
Time (day)	Size range (nm)	Mean (nm)
0	9.29—18.58 nm	13.42
30	12.26—14.08	13.22
90	13.44—23.41	17.91

3.1.3 Composition analysis

FTIR and EDX spectroscopy were conducted to investigate the CDs’ composition. In order to investigate the functional groups on the CDs’ surfaces FTIR analysis was performed. Figure 5a indicates the characteristics peaks at 3300, 2925, 2853, 1744, 1706, 1602, 1457, and 1163 cm^− 1. The peak around 3300 cm − 1 in the spectrum is indicative of the stretching vibrations of O-H bonds. The signals detected at 2924 and 2852 cm -1 in the absorption spectrum correspond to the stretching vibrations of C-H bonds. These signals indicate the potential presence of methyl or methylene groups within the aliphatic hydrocarbon structures of the CDs. The peaks observed at 1744, 1706, and 1602 cm^− 1 are the result of the stretching vibrations of C = O bonds (carbonyl) whereas the peaks at 1457 and 1163 cm^− 1 were ascribed to the –C–N– band and C–O stretching bonds (alkoxy), respectively. Moreover, as can be seen, it peaked at 967 cm^− 1, indicating the presence of an N–H band [22, 23]. Of note, the hydrophilic groups found on the surface of CDs play a crucial role in enhancing their ability to disperse in water. By promoting water dispersibility, these hydrophilic groups enable CDs to interact effectively with biological systems [24].

In order to investigate the elemental composition, the weight and atomic ratios of C, O, and N in the CDs were estimated using EDX analysis. As indicated by the EDX spectrum, the elemental composition of the CDs was found to be 64% carbon (C), 22.5% oxygen (O), and 2.5% nitrogen (N) (Fig. 5b). This analysis provides valuable information about the relative abundance of different elements present in the CDs. The high percentage of carbon suggests that carbon-based materials form the major component of the CDs. The presence of oxygen and nitrogen in smaller proportions indicates the incorporation of oxygen-containing and nitrogen-containing functional groups within the CDs. These elemental ratios contribute to the overall composition and properties of the CDs, making them suitable for various applications.

3.2 Cytotoxicity investigations

The cytotoxic effects of the as-prepared CD against T3T, A549, and MCF-7 cells were evaluated by MTT assay. As observed in Fig. 6, the CDs indicated no toxicity up to a concentration of 1000 µg/mL against the MCF-7, 3T3, and A549 cells. Of note, even at the highest concentration (1000 µg/mL), the cell viability percentage was above 90%.

3.3 Cancer cell imaging by as-prepared CDs

Considering the strong fluorescence, favorable biocompatibility, and considerable stability of the CDs, they have a high potential for use in bioimaging. The suitability of the prepared CDs was investigated for cancer cell imaging as a proof-of-concept. For this purpose, as the cell line model, MCF-7 cells were selected. Fluorescence microscopy images showed that the CDs could successfully penetrate the MCF-7 cells. Bright green fluorescence was observed under 488 nm light excitation when cells were incubated with the aqueous solution of CD after 6 h (Fig. 7). In contrast, no fluorescence signals were observed in untreated cells, which were not incubated with CDs.

CDs, a new rising star in the carbon family, have aroused remarkable attention in biomedical fields. In recent decades, several studies have been performed regarding the methods of fabrication, precursors, and applications of CDs. However, there is still no ideal choice for CD synthesis, and each method has disadvantages, such as production costs and environmental problems [25]. For environmental conservation, finding novel carbon sources for the facile, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly production of CDs is highly desirable [26].

In the present study, cumin seeds were used because of the high potential of plants as a carbon source for CD synthesis. The CDs were successfully fabricated via pyrolysis of cumin seed powder with a mean diameter of 13.42 nm. With regards to the TEM and SEM images, the CDs appeared to be spherical or cubic and were monodisperse while their size ranged from 20 to 60 nm.

The aqueous CDs solution showed a strong blue fluorescence upon exposure to UV light (365 nm), revealing the noticeable fluorescence property of the CDs. Moreover, a wide absorption spectrum with a slight peak was observed at around 250 nm owing to UV-vis spectroscopy results. This was consistent with previous studies on plant-based CDs synthesized through the pyrolysis method [27–29]. In 2019, Wang et al. employed the pyrolysis method at 300 C° to synthesize CDs from Puerariae lobatae Radix [27]. They revealed that a weak peak at approximately 270 nm in the UV–vis absorption spectrum of prepared CDs contributed to the C = C bond’s π–π* transition. Notably, in the study conducted by Yan et al., the CDs were fabricated from the aqueous extract of Pollen Typhae Carbonisata by a modified pyrolysis method at 350 C° [30]. In their study, a weak UV-Vis absorption peak at around 200 nm was witnessed. The broad and weak absorption peak in the UV-vis absorption spectrum may result from the relatively broad size distribution of the CDs [31]. It is noteworthy that precise size control remains a significant challenge in the production of CDs through pyrolysis [32].

Being excited at 350 nm, the as-prepared CDs displayed their highest fluorescence emission, which peaked at 449 nm. This result aligns with the findings from Yan et al.'s study, where Pollen Typhae Carbonisata was used as a carbon source for CD synthesis [30]. In Wang et al.’s study, the strongest fluorescence emission of CDs derived from Pueraria lobatae radix was at 454 nm once they were excited at 350 nm [27]. However, in Meiqin et al.'s study, CDs derived from lemon juice through a hydrothermal reaction had a maximum fluorescence emission at 482 nm when were excited at 410 nm [33]. Notably, the difference in CDs’ fluorescence emissions is associated with quantum size effects, doping with different elements, variation in the concentration of the oxygen/ nitrogen content in carbon cores as well as the content of surface functional groups [34].

One of the challenging issues in nanoparticle synthesis is the physicochemical stability over time. Notably, there was no substantial change in CD’s particle size and fluorescence properties over three months, implying the remarkable stability of these CDs. This shows that the CDs maintained their fluorescence properties without undergoing any significant degradation or alteration. This stability is quite impressive and highlights the robustness and reliability of the CDs as luminescent materials. In terms of the composition analysis of the CDs, a significant number of hydrophilic functional groups were found on the CDs' surface, which improved water dispersibility, stability, and biocompatibility, and made them appropriate for bio-applications.

Cytotoxicity assessment is an essential test to determine the potential use of nanoparticles as fluorescence imaging agents. Indeed, any substance with bio-imaging potential must be biocompatible and it should not induce cell death during cell imaging [35]. Considering the in vitro cytotoxicity assay, the CDs exhibited no cytotoxicity after 24 h, even at a high concentration of 1000 µg/ml on 3T3, MCF-7, and A549 cells, indicating their extremely low cytotoxicity. In the study conducted by Shi et al., it has been shown that the CDs did not exert cytotoxic effects on A549 and HACAT (keratinocytes) cell lines even at concentrations as high as 1.333 mg/ml. The survival of A549 cells decreased to below 40% only for the concentration of 4 mg/mL, while the survival of HACAT was above 80% [36]. Moreover, it has been revealed that other carbon nanomaterials, such as nanotubes and graphene spheres, displayed notably higher levels of cytotoxicity even at much lower concentrations in contrast to CDs [37]. In this study, the MTT test’s results showed that the as-prepared CDs can safely be employed for cell imaging. According to the in vitro cell imaging assay, the CDs could penetrate the MCF-7 cells, making them suitable for cell imaging. Overall, with regards to the exceptional photoluminescence properties, stability, and biocompatibility of cumin seed-derived CDs, they could be highly promising for various biomedical applications, particularly for bio-imaging.

In the current study, we developed a facile and green synthesis method for fabricating CDs from cumin seeds, a cheap and readily available natural precursor with a wide range of pharmacological effects, for the first time. The CDs derived from cumin seeds were fabricated using the pyrolysis method, considered one of the rapid, simple, and eco-friendly approaches for CD production. However, despite its numerous advantages, this method presents certain challenges, such as difficulty in scaling up and yielding a broad size distribution of CDs. The cumin-derived CDs were characterized by particle size analyzer, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, FTIR, fluorescence spectroscopy, and UV-Vis. Moreover, their cytotoxicity was investigated on A549, MCF-7, and 3T3 cell lines. According to the results, through pyrolysis of cumin seeds powder, the CDs with a size as small as 13.4 nm were yielded. The prepared CDs exhibited outstanding photoluminescence properties, particularly when they were excited at 350 nm. The cumin seeds-derived CDs showed considerable photo-physical stability over three months. In terms of bioactivity, the CDs were biocompatible and indicated no toxicity against the mentioned cell lines even at high concentrations. With consideration to images taken by fluorescence microscope, the CDs could be effectively taken by cells, and dye cytoplasmic areas and cell membranes as well. In a nutshell, owing to the combined benefits of green synthesis and favorable properties of cumin seed-derived CDs, they have high potential for being used in various biomedical fields including bio-labelling and drug delivery.

Authorship contribution

B.B: Study design and supervision, analyzing the results, investigation, and critical review of the project. B.A: Analyzing the results, drafting, and editing the manuscript. F.A: Performing experimental sections, data acquisition, and analyzing the results. N.M: Drafting the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgments and Funding

This work was financially supported by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran (Grant No. 98001106). This research paper is the report of Fatemeh Askarian’s Pharm D thesis.

Data Availability

Data and analysis script can be shared on request by contacting the corresponding author Behzad Behnam at his personal email address: [email protected].

Ethical Approval

This study was conducted in accordance with ethical guidelines, and the approval code assigned to the study was IR.KMU.REC.1399.066.

M. Jorns, D. Pappas, A Review of Fluorescent Carbon Dots, Their Synthesis, Physical and Chemical Characteristics, and Applications, Nanomaterials (Basel), 11 (2021).
G.O. Adam, S.M. Sharker, J.H. Ryu, Emerging Biomedical Applications of Carbon Dot and Polymer Composite Materials, Applied Sciences, 12 (2022) 10565.
P. Zhao, Q. Zhang, J. Cao, C. Qian, J. Ye, S. Xu, Y. Zhang, Y. Li, Facile and Green Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Water Hyacinth for the Detection of Ferric Iron and Cellular Imaging, J. Nanomater., 12 (2022) 1528.
J. Pardo, Z. Peng, R.M. Leblanc, Cancer targeting and drug delivery using carbon-based quantum dots and nanotubes, Molecules, 23 (2018) 378.
Y. Bai, Y. Wang, L. Cao, Y. Jiang, Y. Li, H. Zou, L. Zhan, C. Huang, Self-Targeting Carbon Quantum Dots for Peroxynitrite Detection and Imaging in Live Cells, Anal. Chem., 93 (2021) 16466-16473.
X. He, Q. Luo, J. Zhang, P. Chen, H.-J. Wang, K. Luo, X.-Q. Yu, Gadolinium-doped carbon dots as nano-theranostic agents for MR/FL diagnosis and gene delivery, Nanoscale, 11 (2019) 12973-12982.
A. Qureashi, A.H. Pandith, A. Bashir, L.A. Malik, Biomass-derived carbon quantum dots: a novel and sustainable fluorescent “ON–OFF–ON” sensor for ferric ions, Anal. Methods., 13 (2021) 4756-4766.
Z. Wang, F. Cheng, H. Cai, X. Li, J. Sun, Y. Wu, N. Wang, Y. Zhu, Robust versatile nanocellulose/polyvinyl alcohol/carbon dot hydrogels for biomechanical sensing, Carbohydr. Polym., 259 (2021) 117753.
R.R. Zairov, A.P. Dovzhenko, K.A. Sarkanich, I.R. Nizameev, A.V. Luzhetskiy, S.N. Sudakova, S.N. Podyachev, V.A. Burilov, I.M. Vatsouro, A. Vomiero, Single excited dual band luminescent hybrid carbon dots-terbium chelate nanothermometer, J. Nanomater., 11 (2021) 3080.
M. Zulfajri, H.N. Abdelhamid, S. Sudewi, S. Dayalan, A. Rasool, A. Habib, G.G. Huang, Plant Part-Derived Carbon Dots for Biosensing, Biosensors, 10 (2020) 68.
V. Rimal, S. Shishodia, P.K. Srivastava, S. Gupta, A.I. Mallick, Synthesis and characterization of Indian essential oil Carbon Dots for interdisciplinary applications, Applied Nanoscience, 11 (2021) 1225-1239.
A. Sharma, J. Das, Small molecules derived carbon dots: synthesis and applications in sensing, catalysis, imaging, and biomedicine, J. Nanobiotechnology, 17 (2019) 92.
P.T. Anastas, E.S. Beach, Green chemistry: the emergence of a transformative framework, Green Chem Lett Rev, 1 (2007) 9-24.
W. Meng, X. Bai, B. Wang, Z. Liu, S. Lu, B. Yang, Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots and Their Applications, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS, 2 (2019) 172-192.
V. Sharma, P. Tiwari, S.M. Mobin, Sustainable carbon-dots: recent advances in green carbon dots for sensing and bioimaging, J Mater Chem B., 5 (2017) 8904-8924.
O.V. Kharissova, B.I. Kharisov, C.M. Oliva González, Y.P. Méndez, I. López, Greener synthesis of chemical compounds and materials, R. Soc. Open Sci., 6 (2019) 191378.
M. Zulfajri, G. Gedda, C.-J. Chang, Y.-P. Chang, G.G. Huang, Cranberry Beans Derived Carbon Dots as a Potential Fluorescence Sensor for Selective Detection of Fe3+ Ions in Aqueous Solution, ACS Omega, 4 (2019) 15382-15392.
A. Dager, T. Uchida, T. Maekawa, M. Tachibana, Synthesis and characterization of Mono-disperse Carbon Quantum Dots from Fennel Seeds: Photoluminescence analysis using Machine Learning, Sci. Rep., 9 (2019) 14004.
J. Mejía Ávila, M. Rangel Ayala, Y. Kumar, E. Pérez-Tijerina, M.A.R. Robles, V. Agarwal, Avocado seeds derived carbon dots for highly sensitive Cu (II)/Cr (VI) detection and copper (II) removal via flocculation, J. Chem. Eng., 446 (2022) 137171.
M. Zulfajri, S. Dayalan, W.-Y. Li, C.-J. Chang, Y.-P. Chang, G.G. Huang, Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots from Averrhoa carambola Fruit Extract as a Fluorescent Probe for Methyl Orange, Sensors, 19 (2019) 5008.
A.E. Al-Snafi, The pharmacological activities of Cuminum cyminum-A review, IOSR Journal of Pharmacy, 6 (2016) 46-65.
A. Mewada, S. Pandey, S. Shinde, N. Mishra, G. Oza, M. Thakur, M. Sharon, M. Sharon, Green synthesis of biocompatible carbon dots using aqueous extract of Trapa bispinosa peel, Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl, 33 (2013) 2914-2917.
J.-H. Zhang, A. Niu, J. Li, J.-W. Fu, Q. Xu, D.-S. Pei, In vivo characterization of hair and skin derived carbon quantum dots with high quantum yield as long-term bioprobes in zebrafish, Sci. Rep., 6 (2016) 37860.
P. Zhao, L. Zhu, Dispersibility of carbon dots in aqueous and/or organic solvents, Chem comm, 54 (2018) 5401-5406.
G. Gedda, C.-Y. Lee, Y.-C. Lin, H.-f. Wu, Green synthesis of carbon dots from prawn shells for highly selective and sensitive detection of copper ions, Sens. Actuators B Chem., 224 (2016) 396-403.
S. Chahal, J.-R. Macairan, N. Yousefi, N. Tufenkji, R. Naccache, Green synthesis of carbon dots and their applications, RSC Adv., 11 (2021) 25354-25363.
X. Wang, Y. Zhang, M. Zhang, H. Kong, S. Wang, J. Cheng, H. Qu, Y. Zhao, Novel carbon dots derived from puerariae lobatae radix and their anti-gout effects, Molecules, 24 (2019) 4152.
X. Yan, Y. Zhao, J. Luo, W. Xiong, X. Liu, J. Cheng, Y. Wang, M. Zhang, H. Qu, Hemostatic bioactivity of novel Pollen Typhae Carbonisata-derived carbon quantum dots, J. Nanobiotechnology, 15 (2017) 60.
M. Zhang, Y. Zhao, J. Cheng, X. Liu, Y. Wang, X. Yan, Y. Zhang, F. Lu, Q. Wang, H. Qu, Novel carbon dots derived from Schizonepetae Herba Carbonisata and investigation of their haemostatic efficacy, Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol . 46 (2018) 1562-1571.
X. Yan, Y. Zhao, J. Luo, W. Xiong, X. Liu, J. Cheng, Y. Wang, M. Zhang, H. Qu, Hemostatic bioactivity of novel Pollen Typhae Carbonisata-derived carbon quantum dots, Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 15 (2017) 1-8.
F. Wang, Y.-h. Chen, C.-y. Liu, D.-g. Ma, White light-emitting devices based on carbon dots’ electroluminescence, Chem comm, 47 (2011) 3502-3504.
Y. Wu, C. Li, H.C. van der Mei, H.J. Busscher, Y. Ren, Carbon quantum dots derived from different carbon sources for antibacterial applications, Antibiotics, 10 (2021) 623.
M. He, J. Zhang, H. Wang, Y. Kong, Y. Xiao, W. Xu, Material and optical properties of fluorescent carbon quantum dots fabricated from lemon juice via hydrothermal reaction, Nanoscale Research Letters, 13 (2018) 1-7.
L. Xiao, H. Sun, Novel properties and applications of carbon nanodots, Nanoscale Horizons, 3 (2018) 565-597.
C. Dias, N. Vasimalai, P.S. M, I. Pinheiro, V. Vilas-Boas, J. Peixoto, B. Espiña, Biocompatibility and Bioimaging Potential of Fruit-Based Carbon Dots, J. Nanomater., 9 (2019).
W. Shi, Q. Han, J. Wu, C. Ji, Y. Zhou, S. Li, L. Gao, R.M. Leblanc, Z. Peng, Synthesis Mechanisms, Structural Models, and Photothermal Therapy Applications of Top-Down Carbon Dots from Carbon Powder, Graphite, Graphene, and Carbon Nanotubes, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23 (2022) 1456.
H. Shabbir, K. Wojtaszek, B. Rutkowski, E. Csapó, M. Bednarski, A. Adamiec, M. Głuch-Lutwin, B. Mordyl, J. Druciarek, M. Kotańska, P. Ozga, M. Wojnicki, Milk-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots: Study of Biological and Chemical Properties Provides Evidence of Toxicity, Molecules, 27 (2022) 8728.

No competing interests reported.

Download PDF

Journal Publication

published 06 Apr, 2024

Read the published version in Journal of Cluster Science →

Editorial decision: Revision requested
24 Jan, 2024
Reviews received at journal
24 Jan, 2024
Reviews received at journal
01 Jan, 2024
Reviewers agreed at journal
12 Dec, 2023
Reviewers agreed at journal
12 Dec, 2023
Reviewers invited by journal
12 Dec, 2023
Editor assigned by journal
12 Dec, 2023
Submission checks completed at journal
12 Dec, 2023
First submitted to journal
09 Dec, 2023

You are reading this latest preprint version

Fluorescent carbon dots from cumin seeds: preparation, characterization and in vitro biocompatibility test for cell imaging application

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1

Abstract

Figures

1. Introduction

2. Materials & Methods

2.1 Materials

2.2 Synthesis of CDs

2.3 Characterization of the CD

2.4 Cytotoxicity assessment of the CDs

2.5 In vitro cancer cell imaging

3. Results

3.1 Characterization of as-prepared CDs

3.1.1 Photoluminescence properties

3.1.2 Morphology and size assessment

3.1.3 Composition analysis

3.2 Cytotoxicity investigations

3.3 Cancer cell imaging by as-prepared CDs

4. Discussion

5. Conclusion

Declarations

References

Additional Declarations

Status:

Journal Publication

Version 1