Microwave-Based Synthesis of Carbon Dots From Lemon Juice For Biotechnological Applications

In this study, a simple microwave method was used for the synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from lemon juice as a natural source of citric acid and nitrogen/sulfur. In the synthesis of CDs from lemon juice, hydrothermal-based methods were used in the literature. In terms of being simpler and faster, the synthesis of carbon dots from the microwave method was investigated in this study. Compared to the hydrothermal-based methods, the quantum yield of CDs obtained by this method was found to be quite low (0.74%). However, the synthesized CDs showed quenching features over bovine serum albumin (BSA) proteins, which can be used in biotechnology. Moreover, it has been found to have antimicrobial effects on clinically important pathogens such as S. epidermidis, C. albicans, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, E. feacalis, K. pneumonia, and A. baumanii.