Title
Aqueous synthesis of Cu-doped Zn-based quantum dots with light-enhanced cytotoxic capacity for potential biomedical applications
Date Issued
01 June 2016
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Bailon-Ruiz S.
University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez
Publisher(s)
Bentham Science Publishers B.V.
Abstract
Background: Quantum dots are novel nanomaterials with high potential in the biomedical field. Methods: This manuscript reports the direct aqueous synthesis of Cu-doped Zn(Se,S) quantum dots (QDs) via a microwave irradiation-assisted technique. Results: X-ray diffractometry measurements suggested that synthesized nanostructures exhibited a Zn(Se,S) solid solution-like structure with an average crystallite size estimated at 3.6 ± 0.3 nm, which was also corroborated by High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy. Fluorescence measurements of the QDs revealed a green emission peak, centered on 519 nm, that would confirm the actual incorporation of copper species into the Zn(Se,S) host. The toxicity of light-activated QDs was evaluated in cell lines of pancreatic cancer, PANC-1. The viability assay for the PANC-1 control group after 15 minutes of UV exposure was 83% ± 8%. This value went down to 40% ± 7% and 25% ± 2% after contacting the cells with Cu-doped Zn-based QDs, (50 µg/mL), for UV irradiation times of 15 minutes and 60 minutes, respectively. Conclusion: The confirmed capacity of the QDs to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen species could explain their observed light-enhanced toxicity towards PANC-1. Accordingly, as-synthesized Cu-doped Zn-based QDs can be potentially considered as direct photosensitizers for bio-medical applications.
Start page
396
End page
401
Volume
12
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nano-tecnología
Oncología
Ingeniería de materiales
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84964255294
Source
Current Nanoscience
ISSN of the container
1573-4137
Sponsor(s)
This work was financially supported by The National Science Foundation under Grant No. HRD 0833112 (CREST program).
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus