Development of a carbon quantum dots-based fluorescent Cu2+ probe suitable for living cell imaging

Abstract

An efficient strategy for selective fluorescent detection of Cu²⁺ was developed based on the carbon quantum dots (CQDs) nanoconjugated with a specific organic molecule, amino TPEA, and further applied to intracellular sensing and imaging of Cu²⁺ as a consequence of the fluorescence properties and the established low cytotoxicity of CQDs.