Pink Fluorescent Carbon Dots Derived from the Phytomedicine for Breast Cancer Cell Imaging

Abstract

Phytomedicines have been beneficial to humankind for the treatment of implacable ailments from time immemorial. In this report, we have synthesized a carbon dots as a photomedicine from traditional phytomedicine Andrographis paniculata which is widely spread across Southern and Southeastern Asia. Interestingly, these carbon dots exhibited unique pink fluorescence that is perceptibly distinctive from the previous reports. The inherent properties of carbon dots were characterised using Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Selected area diffraction, X-Ray Diffraction, and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy. Furthermore, thermal stability of carbon dots was determined using Thermo gravimetric analysis. The carbon dots are fabricated to possess breast cancer cell bioimaging applications apart from anti-bacterial activities against clinically isolated strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and free radicals sensing and scavenging attributes. These findings establish carbon dots as a potential photomedicine with wide healthcare applications. © 2020 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim