In Vivo Cell Tracking, Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging, and Antioxidative Gene Down Regulation by Long-Term Exposure of Biomass-Derived Carbon Dots

Biomass derived carbon dots (CD) have been observed to be excellent bioimaging probes due to their nontoxic, stable fluorescence, lesser bleachability, and excellent bioconjugation properties. In the current study, green chili extract derived CD synthesis via microwave irradiation is reported. The time dependent top down degradation of carbonaceous materials to CD are monitored via electron microscopy and correlated with fluorescence intensity. Further, the CD were explored for long-term cell tracking and cell therapy monitoring in a rodent model to study wound healing kinetics. The cells were monitorable up to 21 days (until the entire wound healed). CD were observed to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vitro and in vivo and provided control over ROS scavenging enzyme gene expressions via down regulation. Further, it was observed to remodel the wound healing kinetics via altering granulation tissue distribution and formation of microvessels to establish the capability of CD to enhance wound healing.