A FACILE APPROACH FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF CARBON DOTS FROM HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA & ITS APPLICATION AS BIO-IMAGING AGENT AND CR (VI) SENSOR

Abstract

An eco-friendly approach to yield fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) from bio-precursors has received a fascinating impact on its application as heavy metal ions sensors & bio-imaging agent. The C-dots have been synthesised by hydrothermal method from Hibiscus sabdariffa and characterised by IR, TEM, UV and photo luminescent spectral studies. This approach is evident to be facile, cost-effective and non– toxic with unremitting water solubility. The blue luminescent C-dots formed reveals excitation and size dependent photo luminescent behaviour. The as-prepared C-dots have been applied to detect Cr (VI) ions in aqueous solution. Also, the cyto-toxicity and bio-imaging ability of the C-dots were examined using breast cancer cells (MDA-MB 231 cell lines). The studies affirmed low toxicity & excellent bio-imaging potentiality of the C-dots.