Membrane analysis with amphiphilic carbon dots

Newly-synthesized amphiphilic carbon dots were used for spectroscopic analysis and multicolour microscopic imaging of membranes and live cells. We show that Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurred from the amphiphilic carbon dots to different membrane-associated fluorescence acceptors. The amphiphilic carbon dots enabled imaging of membrane disruption by the beta-amyloid peptide.