Green synthesis of lignin based fluorescent nanocolorants for live cell imaging

Abstract In this study, lignin has been used as stabilizing agent during electrochemical synthesis of copper based nanocolorants. Brown, green and blue colored colloidal suspensions of nano particles have been produced under different electrolysis process conditions using copper electrodes. Average particle sizes are found to be 11 nm, 50 nm and 151 nm for green, blue and brown, respectively. Nanocolorants exhibit fluorescent properties under blue, green and UV filters and possess good antibacterial efficiency (9–12 mm zone of inhibition). They are nontoxic and efficient for live cell fluorescent imaging with L929 cells. Cells stained with green nanocolorant show highest fluorescent intensity among all synthesized colorants and pure lignin.