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Multicolor polymeric carbon dots: synthesis, separation and polyamide-supported molecular fluorescence
Bo Zhi1, Xiaoxiao Yao1, Meng Wu2
1Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 207 Pleasant Street SE Minneapolis Minnesota 55455 USA chaynes@umn.edu.
Chemical Science
|June 24, 2021
Summary
We developed multicolor carbon dots (CDs) with tunable colors and distinct cellular trafficking. This work clarifies their fluorescence origins and guides future applications in bio-imaging and sensing.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Multicolor carbon dots (CDs) show promise for bio-imaging, sensing, and LEDs.
- Understanding their tunable fluorescence mechanisms and efficient separation remains challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize multicolor polymeric CDs.
- Separate distinct color fractions.
- Investigate fluorescence origins and cellular localization.
Main Methods:
- Solvothermal synthesis of CDs from citric acid and urea.
- Automated reversed-phase column separation for color fractionation.
- Experimental characterization and computational modeling (TD-DFT, MD simulations).
- Super-resolution imaging of live cells.
Main Results:
- Achieved separation of blue, cyan, green, yellow, orange, and red CD fractions.
- Identified blue fluorescence origin from embedded small molecules; pyrene analogs likely responsible for other colors (especially red).
- Demonstrated distinct sub-cellular trafficking of different CD colors in live cells (blue in mitochondria/lysosomes, red primarily in lysosomes).
Conclusions:
- Elucidated photoluminescence mechanisms of multicolor CDs.
- Provided insights into structure-property relationships for CD design.
- Highlighted the potential of multicolor CDs for targeted bio-imaging applications.
