Semiconductor fluorescent quantum dots: efficient biolabels in cancer diagnostics.
We present and discuss results and features related to the synthesis of water-soluble semiconductor quantum dots and their application as fluorescent biomarkers in cancer diagnostics. We have prepared and applied different core-shell quantum dots, such as cadmium telluride-cadmium sulfide, CdTe-CdS, and cadmium sulfide-cadmium hydroxide, CdS/Cd(OH)(2), in living healthy and neoplastic cells and tissues samples. The CdS/Cd(OH)(2) quantum dots presented the best results, maintaining high levels of luminescence as well as high photostability in cells and tissues. Labeled tissues and cells were analyzed by their resulting fluorescence, via conventional fluorescence microscopy or via laser scanning confocal microscopy. The procedure presented in this work was shown to be efficient as a potential tool for fast and precise cancer diagnostics.
Farias
Patricia M A
PM
Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Federal University of Pernambuco, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, Brazil. patricia_farias@yahoo.com
Santos
Beate S
BS
Fontes
Adriana
A
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005453:Fluorescence; D005910:Glioma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013440:Sulfides; D013691:Tellurium; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis
D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; C034939:cadmium sulfide; D013691:Tellurium; C028337:cadmium telluride