Heteroatom doping on carbon dots (Cdots) has been developed
as
an efficient approach to modify its optical and electronic properties.
The four different types of heteroatom-doped Cdots (undoped Cdots
(u-Cdots, nitrogen-doped Cdots (N-Cdots), sulfur-doped Cdots (Cdots),
nitrogen, sulfur codoped Cdots (N, S-Cdots)) have been synthesized
through a simple heat treatment of 5 min. Among four different heteroatoms
doped nanosensors, N, S-Cdots with MnO2 nanospheres (Mn
NS) showed one of the best fluorescents “on–off–on”
nanosensors for selective sensing of glutathione (GSH) and cell imaging.
N, S-Cdots showed a high fluorescence quantum yield, good photostability,
ionic strength, and pH stability. N, S-Cdots with Mn NS demonstrated
extremely high fluorescence quenching efficiency and the maximum fluorescence
recovery rate after adding GSH to the produced solution. The photophysical
study of N, S-Cdots-Mn NS used as a sensor confirms the inner filter
effect (IFE) quenching mechanism between them. The developed sensor
has an 80 nM limit of detection (LOD) for GSH. The heteroatom-doped
framework of Cdots plays a significant role in the sensitive detection
of GSH. N, S-Cdots-Mn NS have good permeability, biocompatibility,
and low toxicity, due to which it was used in the intracellular imaging
of GSH in living cells. The prepared sensor is rapid, economical,
less toxic, and highly applicable in diagnosing diseases.