High-bright fluorescent carbon dots and their application in selective nucleoli staining

Fluorescent carbon dots (FCDs) were synthesized by refluxing polyethylene glycol, which can emit bright and different fluorescent colours under various wavelengths as well as show stable fluorescence properties with different ionic strength, temperature and time. These FCDs exhibit good biocompatibility and very low toxicity for HeLa cells. Notably, these FCDs, as an efficient live cell fluorescence imaging probe, can selectively stain nucleoli, and the effect is similar to some commercially available dyes (such as Hoechst).