Paper strip based and live cell ultrasensitive lead sensor using carbon dots synthesized from biological media

Carbon dots (C-dots), a new class of non-toxic carbogenic nanomaterials have attracted lots of attention. By using simple microwave heating of a biocompatible biological media such as potato-dextrose agar (PDA), the newly synthesized C-dots not only showed its potential application on the ultrasensitive and highly selective Lead (Pb 2+ ) detection in solution but also in paper based sensor strips. The detection limit (DL) of Pb 2+ was found to be 106–110 pM both in solution and on a paper based strips sensor. The fast kinetic data suggested on spot real time Pb 2+ detection. Finally, it showed the potential Pb 2+ sensing in human cells.