One-pot synthesized fluorescent CDs from Syzygium cumini for metal ion sensing and cell imaging

In this study, carbon dots (CDs) derived from Syzygium cumini leaves were synthesized through a hydrothermal process and employed as a sensing probe for the highly sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+. The synthesized CDs underwent comprehensive analysis to discern their functional groups, composition, morphology, nature, and size. The CDs exhibited excitation-dependent emission fluorescence with a quantum yield of 15.9 %. Notably, Fe3+ induced a substantial quenching effect on the fluorescence intensity of the CDs compared to other metal ions. The developed fluorescent probe facilitated the selective detection of Fe3+ within a linear range of 0-300 mu M, exhibiting a low detection limit (LOD) of 0.13 mu M. Moreover, the applicability of the fluorescent probe was validated in real water samples, with the recovery and Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) values serving as indicators of specificity and selectivity. Additionally, the CDs were assessed for cell imaging in both normal human and cancer cells. The findings indicate that the produced CDs exhibit minimal cytotoxicity and outstanding biocompatibility, underscoring their potential for bioimaging applications.