Dual-functional carbon dots: A fluorescent platform for controlled curcumin delivery and monitoring

IF 3.8 3区物理与天体物理 Q2 OPTICS

Journal of Luminescence Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-12 DOI:10.1016/j.jlumin.2025.121695

Fatemeh Maleki , Nadiya Hadidi , Mehdi Parandin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Tryptophan-derived carbon dots (Try-CDs) were synthesized via a green hydrothermal method and evaluated as a dual-functional nanoplatform for controlled curcumin delivery and fluorescence monitoring. Structural and optical properties were characterized using TEM, DLS, zeta potential, FT-IR, UV–Vis, and PL, with stability confirmed across pH 4–9 and up to 1 M NaCl. Try-CDs exhibited strong blue emission at 438 nm (λ_ex = 360 nm). Curcumin encapsulation improved the zeta potential from −17.8 to −23.3 mV, enhancing colloidal stability while enabling pH-dependent release, accelerated under acidic conditions. Fluorescence intensity decreased linearly with curcumin concentration from 0 to 250 μM (LOD = 0.245 μM), enabling real-time monitoring. DFT and TD-DFT analyses revealed photo-induced charge transfer (PCT) and stable non-covalent interactions in Try-CD–curcumin complexes. These findings demonstrate Try-CDs as biocompatible, self-reporting nanocarriers with significant potential for bioimaging-guided drug delivery and theranostic applications.

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双功能碳点：控制姜黄素传递和监测的荧光平台

采用绿色水热法合成了色氨酸衍生碳点（trycd），并评价了其作为姜黄素控制传递和荧光监测的双功能纳米平台。通过TEM、DLS、zeta电位、FT-IR、UV-Vis和PL对其结构和光学性质进行了表征，并在pH 4-9和高达1 M NaCl条件下证实了其稳定性。Try-CDs在438 nm （λex = 360 nm）处表现出较强的蓝色发射。姜黄素包封将zeta电位从- 17.8 mV提高到- 23.3 mV，增强了胶体稳定性，同时使ph依赖性释放，在酸性条件下加速。荧光强度随姜黄素浓度在0 ~ 250 μM范围内呈线性下降（LOD = 0.245 μM），实现实时监测。DFT和TD-DFT分析揭示了try - cd -姜黄素复合物的光诱导电荷转移（PCT）和稳定的非共价相互作用。这些发现表明，try - cd是一种具有生物相容性的、自我报告的纳米载体，在生物成像引导的药物输送和治疗应用方面具有巨大的潜力。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Luminescence 物理-光学

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

13.90%

发文量

850

审稿时长

3.8 months

期刊介绍： The purpose of the Journal of Luminescence is to provide a means of communication between scientists in different disciplines who share a common interest in the electronic excited states of molecular, ionic and covalent systems, whether crystalline, amorphous, or liquid. We invite original papers and reviews on such subjects as: exciton and polariton dynamics, dynamics of localized excited states, energy and charge transport in ordered and disordered systems, radiative and non-radiative recombination, relaxation processes, vibronic interactions in electronic excited states, photochemistry in condensed systems, excited state resonance, double resonance, spin dynamics, selective excitation spectroscopy, hole burning, coherent processes in excited states, (e.g. coherent optical transients, photon echoes, transient gratings), multiphoton processes, optical bistability, photochromism, and new techniques for the study of excited states. This list is not intended to be exhaustive. Papers in the traditional areas of optical spectroscopy (absorption, MCD, luminescence, Raman scattering) are welcome. Papers on applications (phosphors, scintillators, electro- and cathodo-luminescence, radiography, bioimaging, solar energy, energy conversion, etc.) are also welcome if they present results of scientific, rather than only technological interest. However, papers containing purely theoretical results, not related to phenomena in the excited states, as well as papers using luminescence spectroscopy to perform routine analytical chemistry or biochemistry procedures, are outside the scope of the journal. Some exceptions will be possible at the discretion of the editors.