Amino-functionalized carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) as effective fluorescent probes were synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal method via gluconic acid and N-methylethylenediamine as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. Then the N-CQDs were applied to determine isotretinoin (INN). The syn- thesized N-CQDs were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-vis absorp- tion and photoluminescence spectroscopy. As the emission of N-CQDs is efficiently quenched by INN, the as-prepared N-CQDs are employed as a highly sensitive and selective probe for INN detection. Under the optimal conditions, linear response was observed in the range of 0.08–70.0 mol L −1 for INN determina- tion. The calculated detection limit was 0.03 mol L −1 . The established method showed a good selectivity for INN among several kinds of ions and biomolecules. The results of this study showed that the as- synthesized N-CQDs could be successfully applied to determine INN in blood serum and pharmaceutical samples.
