One-pot green synthesis of carbon dots by using Saccharum officinarum juice for fluorescent imaging of bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells

• One-pot green synthesis was used for fluorescent CDs.
• FT-IR, DLS, and TEM were used for the characterization of CDs.
• The CDs are well dispersed in water with an average size of ~ 3 nm.
• The CDs acted as fluorescent probes for imaging of bacteria and yeast cells.

We are reporting highly economical plant-based hydrothermal method for one-pot green synthesis of water-dispersible fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) by using Saccharum officinarum juice as precursor. The synthesized CDs were characterized by UV-visible, fluorescence, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), high-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HR-TEM), and laser scanning confocal microscopic techniques. The CDs are well dispersed in water with an average size of ~ 3 nm and showed bright blue fluorescence under UV-light (λex = 365 nm). These CDs acted as excellent fluorescent probes in cellular imaging of bacteria (Escherichia coli) and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae).

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