Synthesis of "Dahlia-Like" Hydrophilic Fluorescent Carbon Nanohorn as a Bio-Imaging PROBE.

Carbon nanohorns (CNH) were synthesized by a simple conventional hydrothermal method in this study. The CNHs were prepared by the chemical oxidation from the carbonation of Nafion (catalyst) with heparin (carbon resource). The formation of CNH involved two major steps, as described followed.