Synthesis of Biocompatible L-cysteine Decorated Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots for Bio-imaging of Breast...

Optical nanostructures have gained prominence as an efficient tool for bioimaging due to their distinctive capabilities, including tailorable optical features, bright emissions with excellent photostability, and cytocompatibility. In recent years, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) quantum dots have gained considerable attention within the domains of bioimaging. In this study, an extensive fabrication approach for L-cysteine decorated g-C₃N₄ quantum dots (L-cys-g-C₃N₄ QDs) is developed, and their cytotoxicity is investigated in vitro to determine their potential as bioimaging tools. We synthesized g-C₃N₄ nanostructures by combining thermal polymerization and ultrasonic treatment. The g-C₃N₄ quantum dots decorated with L-cysteine by EDC/NHS coupling reaction. Afterward, the material was characterized using a range of techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. For assessing the cytotoxicity potential of g-C₃N₄ QDs and L-cys-g-C₃N₄ QDs, cytotoxicity assays were conducted on breast cancer cell lines using MTT, ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining, and ROS analysis. These results indicate that g-C₃N₄ QDs and L-cys-g-C₃N₄ QDs exhibited a non-toxic and biocompatible nature. Compared with g-C₃N₄ QDs, L-cys-g-C₃N₄ QDs are highly biocompatible. The fluorescence properties of g-C₃N₄ were further evaluated to investigate its potential as a bioimaging agent. This revealed g-C₃N₄ to be a suitable agent for imaging. The study provides insight into the synthesis and biocompatibility of L-cys-g-C₃N₄ QDs, highlighting their potential for bioimaging applications.