Ampicillin-derived carbon dots as the sensitive probe for the detection of Fe3+ and Cu2+ in living cells and water samples

Mikrochim Acta. 2024 Nov 25;191(12):759. doi: 10.1007/s00604-024-06849-5.

Abstract

Water-soluble N-doped fluorescent (FL) carbon dots (ACDs) were successfully fabricated hydrothermally using ampicillin sodium as sole precursor. The produced ACDs exhibit satisfactory optical behavior, favorable photostability, and acceptable water solubility. With bright blue emission at 450 nm, the ACDs were utilized for multivariate sensing Fe3+ and Cu2+ based on the synergistic effect of the inner filter effect (IFE) and static quenching with detection limits of 0.31 μM and 0.26 μM, respectively. The practicality of ACDs has been verified by the successful determination of Fe3+ and Cu2+ in real water and living cells. These findings confirm the feasibility of the proposed ACDs as FL sensors for efficient and selective detection of Fe3+ and Cu2+, which present promising prospects for real-time monitoring these two metal ions in environmental and biological systems.

Keywords: Ampicillin; Carbon dots; Cell imaging; Fe3+ and Cu2+ detection; Fluorescent probe.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ampicillin* / analysis
  • Carbon* / chemistry
  • Copper* / analysis
  • Copper* / chemistry
  • Fluorescent Dyes* / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Iron* / analysis
  • Iron* / chemistry
  • Limit of Detection
  • Quantum Dots* / chemistry
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence / methods
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis

Substances

  • Copper
  • Carbon
  • Ampicillin
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Iron
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Water