One-step synthesis of mitochondrion-targeted fluorescent carbon dots and fluorescence detection of silver ions

Abstract

Silver ions (Ag+) are the most representative harmful ions found in polluted water and widely used in many industries; excessive ingestion of Ag⁺ in the human body may result in interaction with different metabolites in the human body and in aquatic microorganisms, leading to many diseases. Therefore, there is a great desire to develop good fluorescent probes for Ag⁺. Herein, a kind of mitochondrion-targeted fluorescent carbon dot was developed. These carbon dots exhibit 29.5% fluorescence quantum yield in water, good photostability and thermal stability. The as-fabricated carbon dots can quickly detect Ag⁺ in 100% water solution with good selectivity and anti-interference ability. Further, the carbon dots have been successfully applied to monitor Ag⁺ in living cells via the dual-channel method.