A One‐Pot Simple Method to Produce Carbon Quantum Dots From Potato Peel Waste: Characterization, Biocompatibility, and Antibacterial Activity

ABSTRACT Over the past decade, carbon‐based nanomaterials have emerged as highly versatile candidates for a broad range of technological and biomedical applications. Among these, carbon quantum dots (CQDs)—nanoscale carbon particles typically less than 10 nm in diameter—have garnered considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical properties across numerous fields in recent years. In the present study, CQDs were synthesized via a facile, one‐pot hydrothermal approach utilizing potato peel waste (PPW) as carbon precursor, following saccharification‐based activation. Comprehensive physicochemical characterization was conducted using ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis) spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray diffracion (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic laser scattering (DLS), while high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR‐TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed for morphological analysis. The synthesized CQDs exhibited and average particle size of 3.8 ± 0.5 nm and zeta potential of approximately 33.1 mV, indicative of excellent colloidal stability. Biocompatibility was assessed in vitro using mouse fibroblasts (L‐929 cell line), revealing high cellular viability with an IC 50 exceeding 1000 µg/mL, demonstrating good cytocompatibility. Furthermore, the CQDs exhibited broad‐spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Gram‐negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739), underscoring their potential utility as antibacterial agents.