Chaofan Hu

Fabrication of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Sliver Nanoparticle Hybrids for Raman Detection of Absorbed Folic Acid: A Potential Cancer Diagnostic Probe

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and silver nanoparticle (AgNP) hybrids (RGO-AgNP) were prepared by a facile one-pot method using Poly (N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) as reductant and stabilizer. Folic acid (FA) molecules were attached to the RGO-AgNP by physisorption for targeting specific cancer cells with folate receptors (FRs) and using as Raman reporter molecules. The internalization of the FA loaded RGO-AgNP (RGO-AgNP-FA) inside the FRs-positive cancer cell was confirmed by confocal laser scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The Raman signals of the FA in live cancer cells were detected by confocal Raman spectroscope at 514 nm excitation, indicating that the RGO-AgNP-FA material has great potential as a Raman probe for cancer diagnosis in vitro.

A facile and one-pot synthesis of fluorescent graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots for bio-imaging applications

As a kind of metal-free polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has captivated considerable attention. In this work, an efficient one-pot, economical and green pathway was investigated to simultaneously prepare highly fluorescent g-C3N4 quantum dots (g-C3N4 QDs) and ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets via ethanol-thermal treatment of bulk g-C3N4 in the presence of KOH. The as-obtained g-C3N4 QDs exhibited narrow particle size distribution with an average diameter of 3.3 ± 0.3 nm. Benefiting from these alluring properties, such as excellent water solubility, bright blue fluorescence, favorable stability and good biocompatibility, the g-C3N4 QDs were successfully employed as a brand-new but promising candidate for bioimaging in vitro. Furthermore, this convenient strategy would open a new avenue for the large-scale synthesis of other layered materials.

Preparation of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Copper Sulfide Nanoplates Composites as Efficient Photothermal Agents for Ablation of Cancer Cells

A novel strategy toward one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of copper sulfide nanoplates-decorated reduced graphene oxide (RGO–CuS) composites was developed. CuS nanoplates were successfully loaded onto the surface of RGO in the hydrothermal procedure, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis–NIR and Raman spectroscopy. The as-synthesized RGO–CuS composites showed pronounced enhanced optical absorbance in near infrared (NR) region and higher photothermal conversion efficiency than noncomposite GO and CuS nanoplates. The RGO–CuS materials were used in photothermal ablation of cancer cells with a 980nm laser irradiation and showed improved performance than CuS nanoplates.

Rapid room-temperature preparation of MoO3−x quantum dots by ultraviolet irradiation for photothermal treatment and glucose detection

Oxygen deficient molybdenum oxide (MoO3−x) spurred intense scientific interest in biomedical research owing to the strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect in NIR region. Although a considerable number of methods have been used to prepare MoO3−x nanomaterials, most of them are limited by long reaction time, low yield and poor water solubility of the products. Herein, a novel ultraviolet irradiation method was developed to synthesize MoO3−x quantum dots (QDs) within 30 min, which rendered excellent water solubility and low cytotoxicity. The as-prepared MoO3−x QDs exhibited a relatively narrow size distribution with an average diameter of 5.63 nm, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, an intense LSPR effect in NIR regions was verified by UV-vis spectroscopy. Thus, the materials were used in photothermal ablation of cancer and glucose detection, showing high photothermal conversion efficiency and good sensitivity.

Correction: Towards efficient dual-emissive carbon dots through sulfur and nitrogen co-doped

Correction for ‘Towards efficient dual-emissive carbon dots through sulfur and nitrogen co-doped’ by Wan Zhou et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2017, 5, 8014–8021.

Near-Ultraviolet to Near-Infrared Fluorescent Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots with Two-Photon and Piezochromic Luminescence

Carbon dots (CDs) have gained intensive interests owing to their unique structure and excellent optoelectronic performances. However, to acquire CDs with a broadband emission spectrum still remains an issue. In this work, nitrogen-doped CDs (N-CDs) with near-ultraviolet (NUV), visible, and near-infrared (NIR) emission were synthesized via one-pot solvothermal strategy, and the excitation-independent NUV and NIR emission and excitation-dependent visible emission were observed in the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of N-CDs. Moreover, the as-synthesized N-CDs displayed two-photon fluorescence emission. It is important to note that N-CDs also exhibited piezochromic luminescence with reversibility, in which the red- and blue-shifted PL with increasing applied pressure (0.07-5.18 GPa) and the red- and blue-shifted PL with releasing applied pressure (5.18 GPa to 1 atm) were developed for the first time. Combined with good hydrophilicity, high photobleaching resistance, and low toxicity, the piezochromic luminescence would greatly boost the valuable applications of N-CDs.