Curcumin-Derived (3-Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane-Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots: A Fluorometric and Colorimetric Nanoprobe for Picric Acid Detection, Antioxidant Activity, and Liposome Encapsulation.

Creating an analytical probe to track extremely mutagenic picric acid (PA) is essential for human health and the environment. Here, we developed a straightforward and quick fluorescence analytical method utilizing 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-APTMS)-functionalized curcumin carbon quantum dots (CQDs) for the fast and selective detection of PA. Solvothermal carbonization and functionalization of curcumin with 3-APTMS were used to create multifunctional CQDs, which were then characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ζ-potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).