Effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) length on the fluorescence intensity of carbon dots / Muhamad Azwan Hammad Ahmad

Carbon dots (CD) are luminescent nanoparticles that can be used to track biological processes inside cells. They are less toxic than similar alternatives, making them more suitable for use in live biological systems, but the light-emitting properties of those currently made are not ideal. CD is one of the recent substance that are being used as a tools for bio-imaging probes. Fluorescent CD-based imaging probes have becoming a new medical diagnostic tools due to its advance labelling technology. One of its characteristics is superior brightness and photo­ stability. Besides that, the usage of carbon nanoparticles is safe as it is non-toxic which is suitable for biological staining and diagnostics. In this research, the factors affecting fluorescence intensity of CD was investigated by treating the CD by via surface passivation method. The objective of this study is to find an optimum amount of surface passivating agent i.e. polyethylene glycol (PEG) required to produce maximum fluorescence spectra. It has been concluded that as the length of PEG used in the passivation method increases, the fluorescence intensity of CD was enhanced.