Stable and Photoswitchable Carbon-Dot Liposome

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Carbon-dots (C-dots) are fluorescent nanomaterials with diverse applications.
• Liposomes are versatile vesicles used for drug delivery and biomimicry.
• Photoswitchable materials offer dynamic control over optical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable, photoswitchable carbon-dot liposome.
• To investigate the photoluminescence properties and stability of the C-dot liposome.
• To demonstrate the fabrication of micropatterns using the C-dot liposome.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of carbon-dot (C-dot) liposomes.
• Characterization of photoluminescence (PL) properties, including photoswitching behavior.
• Assessment of stability against salt and photoirradiation.
• Photolithographic patterning of C-dot liposomes.

Main Results:

• The C-dot liposome exhibits intrinsic, stable photoluminescence.
• Photoswitching of PL was achieved by alternating irradiation between 510-540 nm (off) and 365-420 nm (on).
• Negligible photoblinking and high contrast were observed in imaging.
• Micropatterns with different colors were successfully fabricated.

Conclusions:

• The developed C-dot liposome is a stable, photoswitchable fluorescent material.
• Its tunable optical properties and ease of patterning open possibilities for advanced optical devices and imaging.
• This work highlights the potential of integrating C-dots with liposomal structures for novel functionalities.