Usage of agarose gel waste for the high yield production of carbon dots and new insight into their toxicological screening

Abstract The production and application of carbon nanomaterials have engrossed much attention due to their fundamental characteristic properties. With the new advancement in optical and emission properties, the biotic platform has become an innovative boulevard to produce convenient and discriminatory strategies for CDs in biological application. Here, in this regard development of blue fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) has been carried out by applying thermal calcination process. The agar gel waste was utilized as a precursor because it is very difficult to dispose. The better control over the luminescence and physicochemical characteristics of CDs has inspired research work towards their commercialization. They possess excellent quantum yield value (68 %) which reflects their outstanding photoluminescence behaviour. The corresponding effect of formed CDs on haemolysis, blood clotting index, antioxidant and colloidal stability assay has been thoroughly investigated. The complete intactness of CDs in presence of different components of blood suggests the high compatibility. The higher antioxidant activities have supported the higher free radical scavenging activity of developed CDs. The developed CDs have displayed higher fluorescence selectivity towards dopamine (DA) with detection limit of 0.128 μM. and enhanced the potential aptitude in sensing.