title: Bioconjugation of luminescent silicon quantum dots for selective uptake by cancer cells.
abstract: Conventional quantum dots have great potential in cancer-related imaging and diagnostic applications; however, these applications are limited by concerns about the inherent toxicity of their core materials (e.g., cadmium, lead). Virtually all imaging applications require conjugation of the imaging agent to a biologically active molecule to achieve selective uptake or binding. Here, we report a study of biocompatible silicon quantum dots covalently attached to biomolecules including lysine, folate, antimesothelin, and transferrin. The particles possess desirable physical properties, surface chemistry, and optical properties. Folate- and antimesothelin-conjugated silicon quantum dots show selective uptake into Panc-1 cells. This study contributes to the preclinical evaluation of silicon quantum dots and further demonstrates their potential as an imaging agent for cancer applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The University at Buffalo, State University of New York Buffalo, New York 14260-4200, United States.
authors.forename: Folarin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Erogbogbo
authors.forename: Chen-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tien
authors.forename: Ching-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ken-Tye
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: Wing-Cheung
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Law
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Indrajit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Swihart
authors.forename: Paras N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D049449:Luminescence; D008239:Lysine / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D010316:Particle Size; D045663:Quantum Dots; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013499:Surface Properties; D014168:Transferrin / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D014168:Transferrin; D005492:Folic Acid; D008239:Lysine; D012825:Silicon