Abstract
Fluorescent carbon nano-onions emitting in the far-red spectral window with enhanced solubility in biological media and bright photoluminescence are reported. , A new generation of fluorescent carbon nano-onions with enhanced solubility in biological media and bright photoluminescence is reported. The nano-onions functionalized with a water soluble boron dipyrromethene dye emit in the far red spectrum with a high quantum yield ( Φ F ) and are suitable for high resolution imaging. The nanoparticles are characterized by a variety of different analytical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, electron microscopy, Raman, X-ray photoelectron and fluorescence spectroscopies. They are easily internalized by human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) without any significant toxic effects. Moreover, confocal imaging studies show they exhibit a high fluorescence intensity and are localized in the lysosomes at a very low concentration. Our findings confirm the excellent potentialities of these functionalized carbon nanomaterials as biocompatible platform for high resolution biological imaging.
Silvia Giordani
Full Professor Chair of Nanomaterials
My research interests are in the design, synthesis, and characterization of hybrid smart nanomaterials for biomedical, energy and environmental applications