Rapid microwave synthesis of N-doped carbon nanodots with high fluorescence brightness for cell imaging and sensitive detection of iron (III)

We rapidly prepared N-doped photoluminescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) with the one-step microwave irradiation method using diammonium hydrogen citrate as the carbon source. The as-prepared CNDs possessed quasispherical morphology and a high quantum yield of about 26.8%, which was higher than the CNDs obtained by most other microwave-assisted methods. Moreover, the luminescent CNDs could be efficiently uptaken by BGC-823 cells and CT26.WT cells, and exhibited low cytotoxicity and favorable biocompatibility, making them suitable candidates for cell imaging . In addition, the CNDs could be utilized for Fe 3+ ions sensitive detection with a detection limit of 180 nM.