Green preparation of biomass-derived carbon dots: a platform for fluorescent detection of glutathione

Herein, biomass-derived carbon dots (BD-CDs) were synthesized via a solid-state pyrolysis method. A combination of various characterization techniques, including fluorescence lifetime decay, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Zeta potential measurements, was employed to elucidate the group binding mechanism between BD-CDs and glutathione (GSH). Upon application to actual samples, including tomatoes, cucumbers, and celery, the method exhibited exceptional analytical efficacy. Calibration curves comprising two distinct segments (0-120 µM and 120-260 µM), coupled with a detection limit of 0.02 µM. This strategy provides a dependable method for the highly sensitive detection of GSH within intricate matrices, presenting auspicious potential for further development and application within the domains of biosensing and pharmaceutical analysis.