Green Synthesis of Multifunctional Carbon Dots From Cassava Peel

Researchers at the Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of biotechnology, developing multifunctional carbon dots from cassava peels using a green hydrothermal method. This innovative approach presents a sustainable opportunity for creating high-value nanomaterials from an economically significant crop. The carbon dots exhibited remarkable photophysical properties, including excellent fluorescence emission, high biocompatibility, and antioxidant activity. These properties make the carbon dots suitable for use in bioimaging and biosensing applications.

Key Takeaways:

• The researchers developed multifunctional carbon dots from cassava peels using a green hydrothermal method, which presents a sustainable opportunity for creating high-value nanomaterials.
• The carbon dots exhibited excellent fluorescence emission, high biocompatibility, and antioxidant activity, making them suitable for use in bioimaging and biosensing applications.
• The carbon dots were utilized as fluorescent sensors for detecting heavy metal ions (Fe3+ and Hg2+) in real water samples, achieving detection limits of 68.0 and 23.9 μM, respectively.
• The CDs demonstrated efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (72%) under various light sources and also showed strong antioxidant activity, with 82% scavenging inhibition at 10.0 mg/mL concentration.
• The carbon dots exhibited no cytotoxicity and were then applied for fluorescence bioimaging in HeLa cells.
• The as-synthesized CDs made from natural sources like cassava could be further appropriate for use in bioimaging and biosensing.

Statistics:

• 68.0 μM: detection limit for Fe3+ ions
• 23.9 μM: detection limit for Hg2+ ions
• 72%: photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under various light sources
• 82%: scavenging inhibition at 10.0 mg/mL concentration
• 10.0 mg/mL: concentration used for antioxidant activity assay

Sources:

• Facile Green Synthesis of Multifunctional Carbon Dots From Cassava Peel for Heavy Metal Ion Sensing, Photocatalytic Degradation, Antioxidant Activity, and Fluorescence Bioimaging. Materials Science and Engineering B-advanced Functional Solid-state Materials, 2025;320.
• National Science, Research and Innovation Promotion Fund
• Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI)
• Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University