Abstract
Red emissive carbon dots (CDs) are highly desired for biological applications. However, serious luminescence quenching of red emissive CDs in aqueous solution greatly hinders their application in high performance biological imaging. Herein, we reported a facile strategy to realize enhanced red emission of CDs in aqueous solution by surface modification with polyetherimide (PEI) via microwave heating method. High photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of 25% was realized from the PEI functionalized CDs (CDs@PEI) in aqueous solution. The proposed PEI functionalization strategy not only protects the red emission against water molecules quenching, but also reverses the surface charges from negativity to positivity to promote cellular uptake of CDs, leading to clear cell imaging in red fluorescence region. More important, CDs@PEI exhibits much better photostability than commercial red emissive dye (MitoTracker red) in cell fluorescent imaging. Potential application of CDs@PEI on fast staining of cells for clonogenic assay has also been demonstrated.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
