Carbon dots doped with barium as a novel contrast agent for efficient CT X-ray attenuation

The development of novel radiological contrast agents based on carbon dots (CDs) is attracting substantial interest because of their unique properties, such as biocompatibility, fabrication simplicity, colloidal stability and low cost. In this communication, the suitability of barium-doped carbon dots (Ba-CDs) for computed tomography (CT) X-ray attenuation has been assessed for the first time. Morphological analysis showed that Ba-CDs are quasi-spherical in shape with a mean particle size of ∼7.8 ± 2.3 nm. Chemical analysis revealed that the Ba(II) ion concentration in the Ba-CDs was ∼1.15 at%. The prepared Ba-CDs exhibit excellent fluorescent properties and good X-ray attenuation efficiency (13.2 ± 0.51 HU/mM), suggesting their potential applicability as an effective CT radiological contrast agent.