The regulation of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of carbon dots via a one-pot approach

-only systems. The CDs exhibit excitation-dependent maximum fluorescence at 360/440 nm (hydrophilic) and 430/510 nm (hydrophobic), with quantum yields of 17.0% and 7.7%, respectively. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic CDs obtained by this approach exhibit favorable biocompatibility and offer great potential in bio-imaging as demonstrated for the fluorescent labeling and imaging of live HeLa cells.