A novel one-step synthesis of PEG passivated multicolour fluorescent carbon dots for potential biolabeling application

Poly(ethylene glycol) passivated multicolour fluorescent carbon dots (CPs) were synthesised by a novel one-step method and their biolabeling mechanism was studied using S. aureus and recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing E.coli as model systems. The mechanism of formation of fluorescent carbon nanorods from CPs was also explored.