Preparation of photoluminescent carbon dots-embedded polyelectrolyte microcapsules--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Yang, X., Peng, L., Zong, J., & Zhu, Y. (2013). Preparation of photoluminescent carbon dots-embedded polyelectrolyte microcapsules. Particuology, 11(3), 334–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2012.09.008

Preparation of photoluminescent carbon dots-embedded polyelectrolyte microcapsules

Xiaoling Yang, Liming Peng, Jie Zong, Yihua Zhu^*

Key Laboratory for Ultrafine Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China

10.1016/j.partic.2012.09.008

Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2013, Pages 334-339

Received 26 June 2012, Revised 7 September 2012, Accepted 19 September 2012, Available online 8 February 2013.

E-mail: yhzhu@ecust.edu.cn

Highlights

► Carbon dots-embedded polyelectrolyte microcapsules were prepared via layer-be-layer assembly.

► CDs-embedded microcapsules exhibited excitation-dependent photoluminescence behavior.

► CDs-embedded microcapsules can be used as bio-friendly carriers for drug delivery.

Abstract

Two types of photoluminescent carbon dots (CDs)-embedded polyelectrolyte (PE) microcapsules were successfully prepared via the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly approach on sacrificial templates. For the first type, the PE microcapsules with CDs embedded in the cavity were produced from assembly of five pairs of poly(sodium 4-styrensulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) on CDs-pre-loaded meso-porous silica. For the second type, the PE microcapsules with CDs embedded in the wall were made of CDs and PAH, which were derived from SiO₂ particles as templates. Microscope images confirmed the introduction of CDs into the two CDs-embedded microcapsules. These two microcapsules also retained the optical properties of free CDs. Photoluminescence spectra revealed that the two types of microcapsules had excitation-dependent photoluminescence behavior. When the excitation wavelength changed from 280 to 340 nm, photoluminescence emission peak of the PE microcapsules with CDs embedded in the cavity shifts from 369 to 377 nm, while for microcapsules with CDs embedded in the wall, emission peak shifts from 367 to 390 nm. Due to low toxicity, good hydrophilicity and photoluminescence properties of CDs, these two kinds of photo-luminescent microcapsules have competitive potential for application in carriers for imaging, drug delivery and biosensors.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Carbon-dots; Layer-by-layer; Polyelectrolyte; Microcapsules; Photoluminescence

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