Studies on the role of curcumin concentration, synthesis time, mechanism of formation, and fluorescence properties of curcumin–copper phosphate hybrid nanoflowers

Abstract

This is the first-ever report on the effects of curcumin concentration (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 µM) and reaction time (10 min, 2 h, 5 h, 24 h, and 48 h) on the synthesis of curcumin–copper phosphate hybrid nanoflowers. The size of the nanoflowers varied (7.154 ± 2.75 µm to 11.43 ± 2.85 µm) with different concentrations of curcumin and the reaction time also affected the size (9.54 ± 1.45 to 34.05 ± 4.46 µm). UV-Vis spectroscopic analysis confirmed the mechanism of formation of the nanoflowers. Fourier transform infrared measurements showed characteristic infrared vibration modes (v₁, v₂, v₃, and v₄) of PO₄³⁻ ion. Crystalline nature of the nanoflowers was confirmed from X-ray powder diffraction analysis. The confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis showed intrinsic green fluorescence of curcumin. The fluorescent nanoflowers have very good scope for application in the field of curcumin-labeled tracking technology.

Keywords:

• Curcumin
• copper phosphate
• rapid synthesis
• nanoflowers
• crystal growth
• fluorescence

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the TERI-Deakin Nanobiotechnology Centre, The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi and National Physical Laboratory, Delhi is acknowledged for providing the XRD and FTIR facilities, respectively.