The Application of Green-Synthesis-Derived Carbon Quantum Dots to Bioimaging and the Analysis of Mercury(II)‎

Abstract EN

Ginkgo leaves were used as precursors for the hydrothermal synthesis of carbon quantum dots (CQDs), which were subsequently characterized by transmission electron microscopy as well as Fourier-transform infrared, X-ray powder diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

The prepared CQDs exhibited a fluorescence quantum yield of 11% and superior water solubility and fluorescence stability, as well as low cytotoxicities and excellent biocompatibilities with A549 and HeLa cells; these CQDs were also used to bioimage HeLa cells.

Moreover, owing to the experimental observation that Hg2+ quenches the fluorescence of the CQDs in a specific and sensitive manner, we developed a method for the detection of Hg2+ using this fluorescence sensor.

The sensor exhibited a linear range for Hg2+ of 0.50–20 μM, with an excellent coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.9966) and limit of detection (12.4 nM).

In practice, the proposed method was shown to be highly selective and sensitive for the monitoring of Hg2+ in lake water and serum samples.