Synthesis and characterization of Indian essential oil Carbon Dots for interdisciplinary applications

In the present study Carbon Dots (CDs) derived from Indian essential oils Clove (Eugenia caryophyllata), Basil (Ocimum basilicium), Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) have been synthesized and characterized for their potential exquisite applications. The CD nanoscale particles were synthesized using simple green pyrolysis method without engaging external agents. The particles were well below 10 nm in size and showed activities unparallel to that of conventional CDs. Spectroscopy techniques viz. UV-Visible, Fluorescence, FT-IR, TEM were employed for the characterization of CDs while biological activity was tested on sliced bread and spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Further, human MCF-7 cell line was used to study the antiproliferative effects of the CDs in vitro. Our CDs formulation exhibit variable fungal activity and excellent growth retarding potential in addition to their antiproliferative effect. The low cost, ease of synthesis and superior properties of these CDs synthesized from Indian essential oils may represent as a viable and true contender to their traditional counterparts. On a concluding note, this work also highlights the future prospects of the potential use of CDs based nanoparticles and their unpopular characteristics.