Photoluminescent Hybrids of Cellulose Nanocrystals and Carbon Quantum Dots as Cytocompatible Probes for in Vitro Bioimaging

We present an approach to construct biocompatible and photoluminescent hybrid materials comprised of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nano crystals (TO-CNCs). First, the amino-functionalized carbon quantum dots (NH2-CQDs) were synthesized using a simple microwave method, and the TO-CNCs were prepared by hydrochloric acid (HCl) hydrolysis followed by TEMPO mediated oxidation. The conjugation of NH2-CQDs and TO-CNCs was conducted via carbodiimide-assisted coupling,chemistry. The synthesized TO-CNC@CQD hybrid nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, cryo-transmittance electron microscopy, confocal microscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy. Finally, the interactions of TO-CNC@CQD hybrids with HeLa and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were investigated in vitro. Cell viability tests suggest the surface conjugation with NH2-CQDs not only improved the cytocompatibility of TO-CNCs, but also enhanced their cellular association and internalization on both HeLa and RAW 264.7 cells after 4 and 24 h incubation.