1 research outputs found
Carbonization of Human Fingernails: Toward the Sustainable Production of Multifunctional Nitrogen and Sulfur Codoped Carbon Nanodots with Highly Luminescent Probing and Cell Proliferative/Migration Properties
A simple
yet effective method is employed to prepare multifunctional fluorescent
carbon nanodots (CNDs) from human fingernails. The results demonstrate
that the CNDs have excellent optical properties and a quantum yield
of 81%, which is attributed to the intrinsic composition of the precursor
material itself. The CNDs are used to develop an ultrasensitive fluorescent
probe for the detection of hexavalent chromium (limit of detection:
0.3 nM) via a combined inner-filter and static mechanism. Moreover,
the toxicity of the CNDs over four epithelial cell lines is assessed.
A negligible toxicity is induced on the three of the cell lines, whereas
an increase in HEK-293 cell viability is demonstrated, granting cell
proliferation properties to the as-synthesized CNDs. According to
cell cycle analysis, cell proliferation is achieved by enhancing the
transition of cells from the S phase to the G2/M one. Interestingly,
CNDs are found to significantly promote cell migration, maybe because
of their free-radical scavenging ability, making the CNDs suitable
for wound healing applications. In addition, relevant experiments
have revealed the blood compatibility of the CNDs. Finally, the CNDs
were found suitable for cell imaging applications, and all of the
aforementioned merits make it possible for them to be used for extraordinary,
more advanced biological applications