Minhuan Lan

Green Synthesis of Bifunctional Fluorescent Carbon Dots from Garlic for Cellular Imaging and Free Radical Scavenging

Nitrogen and sulfur codoped carbon dots (CDs) were prepared from garlic by a hydrothermal method. The as-prepared CDs possess good water dispersibility, strong blue fluorescence emission with a fluorescent quantum yield of 17.5%, and excellent photo and pH stabilities. It is also demonstrated that the fluorescence of CDs are resistant to the interference of metal ions, biomolecules, and high ionic strength environments. Combining with low cytotoxicity properties, CDs could be used as an excellent fluorescent probe for cellular multicolor imaging. Moreover, the CDs were also demonstrated to exhibit favorable radical scavenging activity.

Carbon Nanoparticle-based Ratiometric Fluorescent Sensor for Detecting Mercury Ions in Aqueous Media and Living Cells

A novel nanohybrid ratiometric fluorescence sensor is developed for selective detection of mercuric ions (Hg(2+)), and the application has been successfully demonstrated in HEPES buffer solution, lake water, and living cells. The sensor comprises water-soluble fluorescent carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) and Rhodamine B (RhB) and exhibits their corresponding dual emissions peaked at 437 and 575 nm, respectively, under a single excitation wavelength (350 nm). The photoluminescence of the CNPs in the nanohybrid system can be completely quenched by Hg(2+) through effective electron or energy transfer process due to synergetic strong electrostatic interaction and metal-ligand coordination between the surface functional group of CNPs and Hg(2+), while that of the RhB remains constant. This results in an obviously distinguishable fluorescence color variation (from violet to orange) of the nanohybrid solution. This novel sensor can effectively identify Hg(2+) from other metal ions with relatively low background interference even in a complex system such as lake water. The detection limit of this method is as low as 42 nM. Furthermore, the sensing technique is applicable to detect Hg(2+) in living cells.

Carbon Dots with Intrinsic Theranostic Properties for Bioimaging, Red‐Light‐Triggered Photodynamic/Photothermal Simultaneous Therapy In Vitro and In Vivo

Cancer nanotheranostics combining therapeutic and imaging functions within a single nanoplatform are extremely important for nanomedicine. In this study, carbon dots (C-dots) with intrinsic theranostic properties are prepared by using polythiophene benzoic acid as carbon source. The obtained C-dots absorb light in the range of 400-700 nm and emit bright fluorescence in the red region (peaking from 640 to 680 nm at different excitations). More importantly, the obtained C-dots exhibit dual photodynamic and photothermal effects under 635 nm laser irradiation with a singlet oxygen ((1)O2) generating efficiency of 27% and high photothermal conversion efficiency of 36.2%. These unique properties enable C-dots to act as a red-light-triggered theranostic agent for imaging-guided photodynamic-photothermal simultaneous therapy in vitro and in vivo within the therapeutic window (600-1000 nm).

A recyclable carbon nanoparticle-based fluorescent probe for highly selective and sensitive detection of mercapto biomolecules

Carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) with strong blue emission are synthesized using a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method. The fluorescence of the CNPs can be completely quenched by Hg2+ through an effective electron or energy transfer process due to the synergetic strong electrostatic interaction and metal-ligand coordination. Based on this, a system containing Hg2+-quenched CNPs (CNP-Hg2+) is designed to be a sensitive and selective turn-on fluorescent probe towards cysteine (a type of mercapto biomolecule) with a detection limit of 15 nM. The fluorescence of CNP-Hg2+ aqueous solution can be repeatedly turned on and off for over 10 times by alternative addition of cysteine and Hg2+, respectively. After 10 cycles, the fluorescence intensity could be recovered to as high as 85% of the original value of CNPs. Remarkably, the sensing process is able to be observed by the naked eye under UV irradiation. Furthermore, the sensing is specific to biothiols and the sensor is able to work in living cells.

Fe1−xS/C nanocomposites from sugarcane waste-derived microporous carbon for high-performance lithium ion batteries

We report a novel strategy to collect microporous carbon from disposable sugarcane waste for lithium ion battery (LIB) applications. First boiled in water and ethanol and then calcined, the sugarcane waste successfully transforms into microporous carbon, delivering a specific capacity of 311 mA h g −1 at 0.33C as a LIB anode material. For improved LIB performance, pyrrhotite-5T Fe 1−x S nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed and robustly attached to the scaffold of the microporous carbon using a novel sulfurization method. A remarkably ultrahigh capacity of 1185 mA h g −1 (well beyond the theoretical value by 576 mA h g −1 ) was achieved after 200 charging/discharging cycles at a current density of 100 mA g −1 , suggesting desirable synergetic effects between Fe 1−x S and microporous carbon which lead to a shortened lithium ion transportation path, enhanced conductivity and effective prevention of polysulfide dissolution. Our approach opens a convenient route for mass-producing sustainable, superior LIB electrodes from natural wastes that can substitute commercial graphite.

Copolythiophene-Derived Colorimetric and Fluorometric Sensor for Lysophosphatidic Acid Based on Multipoint Interactions

3-Phenylthiophene-based water-soluble copolythiophenes (CPT9) were designed for colorimetric and fluorometric detection of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) based on electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding. Other negatively charged species gave nearly no interference, and the detection limit reached to 0.6 μM, which is below the requisite detection limits for LPA in human plasma samples. The appealing performance of CPT9 was demonstrated to originate from the multipoint interaction-induced conformational change of conjugated backbone and weakened electron transfer effect. To our best knowledge, this is the first polythiophene based optical sensor which displays emission peak red-shift followed with fluorescence enhancement.

Highly stable organic fluorescent nanorods for living cell imaging

Metal-free, organic-dye-based fluorescent nanorods were fabricated through a simple solvent-exchange procedure. The as-prepared nanorods exhibit low toxicity to living cells and excellent photostability. Furthermore, they are stable in solutions of various pHs and high ionic strength and in solutions with interfering metal ions. Compared with the free DPP-Br molecules in THF, these nanorods exhibit larger Stokes shift, broader absorption spectra, and greatly improved photostability. We successfully demonstrated the application of the nanorods, including their aforementioned beneficial characteristics, as a good fluorescence probe for bio-imaging.

Two-photon-excited near-infrared emissive carbon dots as multifunctional agents for fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy

C dots (CDs) have shown great potential in bioimaging and phototherapy. However, it is challenging to manipulate their fluorescent properties and therapeutic efficacy to satisfy the requirements for clinic applications. In this study, we prepared S, Se-codoped CDs via a hydrothermal method and demonstrated that the doping resulted in excitation wavelength-independent near-infrared (NIR) emissions of the CDs, with peaks at 731 and 820 nm. Significantly, the CDs exhibited a photothermal conversion efficiency of ~58.2%, which is the highest reported value for C nanostructures and is comparable to that of Au nanostructures. Moreover, the CDs had a large two-photon absorption cross section (~30,045 GM), which allowed NIR emissions and the photothermal conversion of the CDs through the two-photon excitation (TPE) mechanism. In vitro and in vivo tests suggested that CDs can function as new multifunctional phototheranostic agents for the TPE fluorescence imaging and photothermal therapy of cancer cells.

Water-Soluble Polythiophene for Two-Photon Excitation Fluorescence Imaging and Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

Positively charged water-soluble polythiophene (PT0) that could self-assemble into nanoparticles in pure water solution was designed and synthesized. PT0 exhibited high photostabilities and pH stabilities, excellent biocompatibility, strong 1O2 generation capability, and large two-photon absorption cross sections. Moreover, we showed that the fluorescence of PT0 was unaffected by the interference of biomolecules and metal ions. As an example application, PT0 was demonstrated to be capable of simultaneous cell imaging and photodynamic therapy under either one-photon or two-photon excitation modes.

Lithiophilic Cu‐CuO‐Ni Hybrid Structure: Advanced Current Collectors Toward Stable Lithium Metal Anodes

Metallic lithium (Li) is a promising anode material for next-generation rechargeable batteries. However, the dendrite growth of Li and repeated formation of solid electrolyte interface during Li plating and stripping result in low Coulombic efficiency, internal short circuits, and capacity decay, hampering its practical application. In the development of stable Li metal anode, the current collector is recognized as a critical component to regulate Li plating. In this work, a lithiophilic Cu-CuO-Ni hybrid structure is synthesized as a current collector for Li metal anodes. The low overpotential of CuO for Li nucleation and the uniform Li+ ion flux induced by the formation of Cu nanowire arrays enable effective suppression of the growth of Li dendrites. Moreover, the surface Cu layer can act as a protective layer to enhance structural durability of the hybrid structure in long-term running. As a result, the Cu-CuO-Ni hybrid structure achieves a Coulombic efficiency above 95% for more than 250 cycles at a current density of 1 mA cm-2 and 580 h (290 cycles) stable repeated Li plating and stripping in a symmetric cell.