Controlling the Cytotoxicity of CdSe Magic-Sized Quantum Dots as a Function of Surface Defect Density

Quantum dots are potentially very useful as fluorescent probes in biological systems. However, they are inherently cytotoxic because of their constituents. We controlled the cytotoxicity of CdSe magic-sized quantum dots (MSQDs) as a function of surface defect density by altering selenium (Se) concen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nano letters 2014-09, Vol.14 (9), p.5452-5457
Main Authors: Almeida Silva, Anielle Christine, Silva, Marcelo José Barbosa, da Luz, Felipe Andrés Cordero, Silva, Danielle Pereira, de Deus, Samantha Luara Vieira, Oliveira Dantas, Noelio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Actins - chemistry
Cadmium - chemistry
Cadmium Compounds - chemistry
HeLa Cells
Humans
Ions
Luminescence
Metallothionein - chemistry
Nanotechnology - methods
Oxidative Stress
Quantum Dots
Reactive Oxygen Species
Selenium - chemistry
Selenium Compounds - chemistry
Surface Properties
Temperature
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Summary:Quantum dots are potentially very useful as fluorescent probes in biological systems. However, they are inherently cytotoxic because of their constituents. We controlled the cytotoxicity of CdSe magic-sized quantum dots (MSQDs) as a function of surface defect density by altering selenium (Se) concentration during synthesis. Higher Se concentrations reduced the cytotoxicity of the CdSe MSQDs and diminished mRNA expression of methallothionein because of the low cadmium ions (Cd2+) concentration adsorbed on the surface of the MSQDs. These results agree with luminescence spectra, which show that higher Se concentrations decrease the density of surface defects. Therefore, our results describe for the first time a simple way of controlling the cytotoxicity of CdSe MSQDs and making them safer to use as fluorescence probes in biological systems.
ISSN:1530-6984
1530-6992
DOI:10.1021/nl5028028