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Facile approach to preparation of novel black vitamin C using microwave treatment: characteristics, antioxidant activity, and anti-pollution properties

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Abstract

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) are 0D quasi-spherical nanoparticles that are less than 10 nm in size. CNDs that possess surface functional groups such as hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups have been demonstrated to scavenge free radicals efficiently and effectively, resulting in them being beneficial for cosmetic and cosmeceutical applications. In this study, we successfully prepared novel CNDs, namely black VC, using vitamin C (VC) as a promising precursor. Black VC was prepared by a facile one-step method based on short-time microwave irradiation. The properties of black VC were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV–vis spectrophotometry. Radical scavenging, cell viability, and anti-pollution activity assays were also conducted to demonstrate the functionalities of black VC. The developed black VC exhibited lower cytotoxicity and better antioxidant, metal chelating ability, and anti-pollution activities than its precursor. These results provide a new approach for developing advanced antioxidants for innovative cosmetic formulations using a simple microwave treatment method. However, black VC retained some problems of its precursor in the form of low stability, which is likely to be a challenge for its cosmeceutical application.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education (2021R1F1A1047906) and by the Basic Science Research Capacity Enhancement Project through the Korea Basic Science Institute (National Research Facilities and Equipment Center) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (2019R1A6C1010016).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser and Thermal Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, 13120, Republic of Korea

    Vinh Van Tran

  2. Department of Beauty Design Management, Hansung University, Seoul, 02876, Republic of Korea

    Ju‐Young Moon

  3. Department of BioNano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam-si, 13120, Republic of Korea

    Young-Chul Lee

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  1. Vinh Van Tran
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  2. Ju‐Young Moon
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  3. Young-Chul Lee
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Contributions

Conceptualization, V.V.T, J.-Y.M., Y.-C. L.; data curation, V.V.T.; writing original draft preparation, V. V. T.; writing review and editing, V.V.T and J.-Y. M, Y.-C.L: funding acquisition; Y.C.-L. All the authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ju‐Young Moon or Young-Chul Lee.

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Van Tran, V., Moon, J. & Lee, YC. Facile approach to preparation of novel black vitamin C using microwave treatment: characteristics, antioxidant activity, and anti-pollution properties. Carbon Lett. 33, 431–442 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-022-00431-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42823-022-00431-w

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