High-quantum yield alloy-typed core/shell CdSeZnS/ZnS quantum dots for bio-applications

Journal of Nanobiotechnology

Heung Su Jung¹  Bong-Hyun Jun²  Jaehi Kim²  Xuan-Hung Pham²  Hyung-Mo Kim²  Kyeong-min Ham²  Eunil Hahm²  Wooyeon Kim²  Sang-Hun Lee³  Jung Woo Byun⁴  Do Won Hwang⁴  Dong Soo Lee⁴  Kyu Wan Kim⁴  Won-Yeop Rho⁵ 

[1] Company of Global Zeus;Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University;Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hanbat University;Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine;School of International Engineering and Science, Jeonbuk National University;

关键词: Quantum dot;    Alloy;    Surface modification;    Folic acid;    Quantum yield;    In vitro imaging;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12951-021-01227-2

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Quantum dots (QDs) have been used as fluorophores in various imaging fields owing to their strong fluorescent intensity, high quantum yield (QY), and narrow emission bandwidth. However, the application of QDs to bio-imaging is limited because the QY of QDs decreases substantially during the surface modification step for bio-application. Results In this study, we fabricated alloy-typed core/shell CdSeZnS/ZnS quantum dots (alloy QDs) that showed higher quantum yield and stability during the surface modification for hydrophilization compared with conventional CdSe/CdS/ZnS multilayer quantum dots (MQDs). The structure of the alloy QDs was confirmed using time-of-flight medium-energy ion scattering spectroscopy. The alloy QDs exhibited strong fluorescence and a high QY of 98.0%. After hydrophilic surface modification, the alloy QDs exhibited a QY of 84.7%, which is 1.5 times higher than that of MQDs. The QY was 77.8% after the alloy QDs were conjugated with folic acid (FA). Alloy QDs and MQDs, after conjugation with FA, were successfully used for targeting human KB cells. The alloy QDs exhibited a stronger fluorescence signal than MQD; these signals were retained in the popliteal lymph node area for 24 h. Conclusion The alloy QDs maintained a higher QY in hydrophilization for biological applications than MQDs. And also, alloy QDs showed the potential as nanoprobes for highly sensitive bioimaging analysis. Graphical Abstract

【 授权许可】

Unknown