An In Vitro Investigation of Cytotoxic Effects of InP/Zns Quantum Dots with Different Surface Chemistries

Nanomaterials

Thomas Nann¹  Deanna Ayupova¹  Geoffry Laufersky¹  ReneeV. Goreham¹  Garima Dobhal¹ 

[1] MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Wellington 6140, New Zealand;

关键词: quantum yields;    aptamer;    photoluminescence;    cytotoxicity;    quantum dots;    bioimaging;   

DOI  :  10.3390/nano9020135

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Indium phosphide quantum dots (QDs) passivated with zinc sulphide in a core/shell architecture (InP/ZnS) with different surface chemistries were introduced to RAW 264.7 murine “macrophage-like„ cells to understand their potential toxicities. The InP/ZnS quantum dots were conjugated with an oligonucleotide, a carboxylic acid, or an amino-polyethylene glycol ligand, and cell viability and cell proliferation were investigated via a metabolic assay. Membrane integrity was measured through the production of lactate dehydrogenase. Fluorescence microscopy showed cellular uptake. All quantum dots exhibited cytotoxic behaviour less than that observed from cadmium- or lead-based quantum dots; however, this behaviour was sensitive to the ligands used. In particular, the amino-polyethylene glycol conjugated quantum dots proved to possess the highest cytotoxicity examined here. This provides quantitative evidence that aqueous InP/ZnS quantum dots can offer a safer alternative for bioimaging or in therapeutic applications.

【 授权许可】

Unknown