title: An in vitro assessment of the interaction of cadmium selenide quantum dots with DNA, iron, and blood platelets.
abstract: Cadmium selenide (CdSe) quantum dots have gained increased attention for their potential use in biomedical applications. This has raised interest in assessing their toxicity. In this study, water-soluble, cysteine-capped CdSe nanocrystals with an average size of 15 nm were prepared through a one-pot solution-based method. The CdSe nanoparticles were synthesized in batches in which the concentration of the capping agent was varied with the aim of stabilizing the quantum dot core. The effects of the CdSe quantum dots on DNA stability, aggregation of blood platelets, and reducing activity of iron were evaluated in vitro . DNA damage was observed at a concentration of 200 μg/mL of CdSe quantum dots. Furthermore, the CdSe nanocrystals exhibited high reducing power and chelating activity, suggesting that they may impair the function of haemoglobin by interacting with iron. In addition, the CdSe quantum dots promoted aggregation of blood platelets in a dose dependent manner.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rekha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dunpall
authors.forename: Adeola Ayodeji
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nejo
authors.forename: Viswanadha Srirama Rajasekhar
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pullabhotla
authors.forename: Andy R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Opoku
authors.forename: Neerish
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Revaprasadu
authors.forename: Addmore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shonhai
mesh_terms: D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000633:toxicity*; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000633:toxicity*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000633:toxicity*; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010316:Particle Size; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D007502:Iron Chelating Agents; D015335:Molecular Probes; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D014867:Water; D004247:DNA; C058667:cadmium selenide; D007501:Iron; D003545:Cysteine