Biocompatible carbon nanodots from red onion peels for anti-oxidative and bioimaging applications

The present study reports the green synthesis of carbon dots (C-dots) by one-step, facile hydrothermal process, using red onion peels as the base material. The optical properties of the C-dots have been studied in detail using UV-Visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and quantum yield measurements. The structural IP: 182.75.148.10 On: Thu, 13 Jan 2022 07:09:17 and compositional analysis of fluorescent C-dots was done via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron Copyright: American Scientific Publishers microscopy (TEM). Surface chemistry of the C-dots was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy Delivered by Ingenta (FTIR). The stability measurement of C-dots was done via Zeta potential. The biocompatibility of the C-dots was evaluated using a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). C-dots were used as potential bioimaging agents for fluorescence imaging of mammalian cell lines. Concentration-dependent cellular uptake of the C-dots by the MCF-7 cells was shown qualitatively using fluorescence microscopy. The study also assessed the antioxidant activity of the C-dots. Thus, this work validates the red onion peel-derived C-dots as excellent bioimaging and antioxidant agents for mammalian cell lines.

Automated summary

This study presents the green synthesis of carbon dots using red onion peels, and investigates their optical properties, structure, composition, surface chemistry, stability, and biocompatibility. The carbon dots were used as bioimaging agents for mammalian cell lines and evaluated for antioxidant activity.