Novel Phellodendri Cortex (Huang Bo)-derived Carbon Dots and Their Hemostatic Effect

AIM: To explore the hemostatic effect of Phellodendri Cortex-derived carbon dots. MATERIALS & METHODS: Transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and a cell counting kit-8 assay were studied. Hemostatic effect of Phellodendri Cortex Carbonisatus-carbon dots (PCC-CDs) was studied in mouse bleeding models. To explore their related hemostatic mechanism, coagulation parameters and platelets were measured. RESULTS: The PCC-CDs ranged in diameter from 1.2 to 4.8 nm and had a quantum yield of 9.62%. They exhibited no toxicity up to concentrations of 1000 μg/ml. After administration, mice had a significantly shortened bleeding time and coagulation parameters and platelets significantly increased. CONCLUSION: These results showed the definite hemostatic effect of PCC-CDs.