Highly stable and low toxic CdTe quantum dots synthesized via ahydrothermal method for cell imaging applications

• Although biological applications of quantum dots (QDs) by now are widely recognized and reported, routine production of small-size water-soluble and stable QDs still remains a challenge. In the present work we highlight prospects offered by the hydrothermal method to synthesize water-soluble QDs. We illustrate the method by synthesizing CdTe QDs which process some outstanding properties like highly luminescent red emission and high stability over a wide pH range. Compared with those synthesized via the traditional aqueous method, we show that CdTe QDs synthesized via the hydrothermal method feature higher photostability and lower cytotoxicity. Based on such prepared CdTe QDs, luminescent QD-IgG bioprobes were produced to detect the breast cancer marker Her2 on the surface of MCF-7 cancer cells, indicating that such prepared QD systems are promising candidates for use as bioprobes.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Biochemistry

Biokemi

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)