A novel one-step and green synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots from saffron for cell imaging and sensing of prilocaine

[Display omitted] •A new rapid, green and eco-friendly method is developed for synthesis carbon dots.•The CDs have excellent stability in different conditions and are non-toxic.•The CDs are excellent candidate for cell imaging for imaging of cancer cells.•They can use as a sensitive sensor for detection drug at low concentration in blood. For the first time, a novel and green strategy have been successfully established to synthesize carbon dots from saffron. In this synthesis, a simple method based on hydrothermal treatment was used to synthesis carbon dots with a quantum yield of 23.6%. The as-synthesized carbon dots exhibited many advantages including high fluorescence intensity, water solubility, stability, non-toxic, eco-friendly and importantly using in sensing drugs and cell imaging. Also, the carbon dots were used to assay prilocaine based on quenching assay, without any labeling or using chemical reagents. The influence of several experimental parameters affecting the optical signal, were studied. Under the optimal conditions, prilocaine was measured in a linear range of 2.3–400nmolL−1 (0.5–90ngmL−1). The sensor enables to detect prilocaine as low as 1.8nmolL−1. Finally, the carbon dots were applied for cell imaging of bone marrow cells and Olfactory mucosa cells from rats to illustrate their potential in various applications, with satisfactory results.