One-pot green synthesis of highly luminescent silicon nanoparticles using Citrus limon (L.) and their applications in luminescent cell imaging and antimicrobial efficacy

Strongly luminescent and water dispersible silicon nanoparticles were synthesised by one-pot synthesis from venyl-trimethoxy-silane and (3-aminopropyl)-triethoxy-silane using both chemical and green reducing agents, sodium ascorbate and Citrus limon (L.) respectively. Unlike sodium ascorbate, the reduction using lemon extracts produces smaller nanoparticles with average size of 20 and 57 nm. The antimicrobial efficacy of the nanoparticles is examined against various microorganisms and is noted that these particles possessed antibacterial property if used in concentrations above the threshold value of 1.5 mu g/ml. In addition, these silicon nanoparticles emit intense blue-green emission which is successfully utilised for the luminescent cell imaging of human white blood cells and mice epithelial cells.