Biocompatible carbon dots from fermented and non-fermented coconut water: Evaluation of antioxidant, antimitotic, antibacterial and cytotoxic activities

Abstract

A green, economical, microwave-assisted synthesis was used to prepare fluorescent, water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) from fermented and non-fermented coconut water and compared their multifunctional bioactivities, including antioxidant, antimitotic, antibacterial, and anticancer properties. Characterization using HR-TEM, XRD, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed successful CD formation, with fermentation-induced modification enhances their physicochemical properties. Antioxidant assays demonstrated that fermented CDs (FCW-CDs) exhibited a 65 % higher radical scavenging activity than non-fermented CDs (NFCW-CDs). Antibacterial tests showed significant inhibition against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, with fermented CDs displaying greater zone of inhibition. In antimitotic studies, fermented CDs showed no chromosomal aberrations, whereas non-fermented CDs induced negligible aberrations. This highlights the superior biocompatibility of fermented CDs. The DLA cell assay confirmed that fermented CDs exhibited 1.45 times higher cytotoxicity compared to non-fermented CDs. These findings suggest that fermentation enhances the bioactive properties of coconut water derived CDs, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications.