Wavelength-Tuneable Fluorescent Carbon Dots for Nucleic Acid Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Nucleic acids are vital cellular components, and their dynamic changes are linked to physiological processes.
• Nucleic acid labeling aids in early diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Current methods for nucleic acid imaging require advanced techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize wavelength-adjustable nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) for nucleic acid imaging.
• To investigate the relationship between nitrogen content in N-CDs and their optical properties.
• To evaluate the potential of N-CDs for selective nucleic acid and RNA tracking in cells.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a transfer mechanism between carbon sources and carbon dots (CDs) to synthesize N-CDs.
• Precisely controlled nitrogen structure in carbon sources to tune graphite nitrogen content.
• Characterized the optical properties of N-CDs, including adjustable emission wavelengths.
• Assessed the selective affinity of N-CDs for nucleic acids, particularly RNA.

Main Results:

• Synthesized N-CDs with tunable graphite nitrogen content (10.6% to 30.1%).
• Achieved adjustable emission wavelengths from visible (461 nm/527 nm) to near-infrared (650 nm/676 nm) by altering nitrogen content.
• Demonstrated selective affinity of N-CDs for nucleic acids, with a preference for RNA.
• Showcased N-CDs as an efficient platform for real-time RNA tracking in cellular environments.

Conclusions:

• Wavelength-adjustable N-CDs were successfully synthesized for nucleic acid imaging.
• N-CDs offer a versatile platform for tuning optical properties through controlled nitrogen doping.
• The selective affinity of N-CDs for RNA enables advanced cellular imaging and diagnostics.