Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin

Abstract This work reports a novel one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of N-CQDs using Solanum nigrum L. as sustainable carbon source and triethylamine as nitrogen provider. The resulting N-CQDs were systematically characterized with TEM, SEM, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, and UV–Visible. Significantly, the N-CQDs ex...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fangzhou Shen, Zhaoyang Lu, Kangli Yan, Kang Luo, Shuchen Pei, Pu Xiang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14383-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849763641605226496
author Fangzhou Shen
Zhaoyang Lu
Kangli Yan
Kang Luo
Shuchen Pei
Pu Xiang
author_facet Fangzhou Shen
Zhaoyang Lu
Kangli Yan
Kang Luo
Shuchen Pei
Pu Xiang
author_sort Fangzhou Shen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This work reports a novel one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of N-CQDs using Solanum nigrum L. as sustainable carbon source and triethylamine as nitrogen provider. The resulting N-CQDs were systematically characterized with TEM, SEM, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, and UV–Visible. Significantly, the N-CQDs exhibited substantial antimicrobial efficacy against both S. aureus and E. coli bacterial strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 1.2 mg/mL and 1.1 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the N-CQDs demonstrated pronounced fluorescence enhancement upon interaction with ciprofloxacin, displaying exceptional selectivity and sensitivity, with a calculated LOD of 316 nM. The feasibility of employing N-CQDs as fluorescent probes for ciprofloxacin detection was systematically validated through practical application in honey analysis. This study introduces a novel approach for the fabrication of N-CQDs derived from natural botanical sources, underscoring their potential dual functionality as fluorescent sensors and antimicrobial materials.
format Article
id doaj-art-23d5a879dea34d219b555cf50ce36efc
institution DOAJ
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-23d5a879dea34d219b555cf50ce36efc2025-08-20T03:05:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-14383-4Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacinFangzhou Shen0Zhaoyang Lu1Kangli Yan2Kang Luo3Shuchen Pei4Pu Xiang5Dermatology, University-Town Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversitySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and TechnologySchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacy, People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Three Gorges Medical CollegeSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Pharmacy, The People’s Hospital of Dianjiang CountyAbstract This work reports a novel one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of N-CQDs using Solanum nigrum L. as sustainable carbon source and triethylamine as nitrogen provider. The resulting N-CQDs were systematically characterized with TEM, SEM, FT-IR, XPS, XRD, and UV–Visible. Significantly, the N-CQDs exhibited substantial antimicrobial efficacy against both S. aureus and E. coli bacterial strains, with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 1.2 mg/mL and 1.1 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the N-CQDs demonstrated pronounced fluorescence enhancement upon interaction with ciprofloxacin, displaying exceptional selectivity and sensitivity, with a calculated LOD of 316 nM. The feasibility of employing N-CQDs as fluorescent probes for ciprofloxacin detection was systematically validated through practical application in honey analysis. This study introduces a novel approach for the fabrication of N-CQDs derived from natural botanical sources, underscoring their potential dual functionality as fluorescent sensors and antimicrobial materials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14383-4Nitrogen dopingAntibacterialCiprofloxacinCarbon quantum dots
spellingShingle Fangzhou Shen
Zhaoyang Lu
Kangli Yan
Kang Luo
Shuchen Pei
Pu Xiang
Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
Scientific Reports
Nitrogen doping
Antibacterial
Ciprofloxacin
Carbon quantum dots
title Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
title_full Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
title_fullStr Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
title_short Synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
title_sort synthesis and properties of carbon quantum dots as an antimicrobial agent and detection of ciprofloxacin
topic Nitrogen doping
Antibacterial
Ciprofloxacin
Carbon quantum dots
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-14383-4
work_keys_str_mv AT fangzhoushen synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin
AT zhaoyanglu synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin
AT kangliyan synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin
AT kangluo synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin
AT shuchenpei synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin
AT puxiang synthesisandpropertiesofcarbonquantumdotsasanantimicrobialagentanddetectionofciprofloxacin