Green Synthesis of Highly Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Groundnut Shell Biomass for Bioimaging Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Metal-based quantum dots face environmental and toxicity concerns.
• Renewable carbon sources are being explored for novel nanomaterial synthesis.
• Carbon dots (CDs) offer tunable optical properties and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile and green synthesis method for fluorescent carbon dots.
• To characterize carbon dots derived from groundnut shells (GNS).
• To evaluate the potential of GNS-derived carbon dots (GCDs) for bioimaging.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of carbon dots from groundnut shells (GNS) using a green approach.
• High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) for structural analysis.
• UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy for optical characterization.
• Quantum yield estimation.
• Cell viability assays for biocompatibility assessment.

Main Results:

• Groundnut shell Carbon Dots (GCDs) were successfully synthesized.
• HRTEM confirmed graphitic structures with lattice spacing of ~0.22 nm.
• GCDs exhibited strong absorption at ~278 nm and tunable fluorescence emission (280-480 nm excitation).
• The quantum yield of GCDs was determined to be 17.1%.
• Biocompatibility was confirmed through cell viability tests, showing suitability for yeast cell imaging.

Conclusions:

• A sustainable and green method for producing fluorescent carbon dots from GNS was established.
• GCDs possess desirable optical properties and structural characteristics for nanomaterial applications.
• The biocompatibility and imaging capabilities of GCDs suggest their potential in bioimaging and other biotechnological fields.