title: Linseed oil based nanocapsules as delivery system for hydrophobic quantum dots.
abstract: In the present work, the CdSe/ZnS hydrophobic quantum dots were embedded within the polyelectrolyte nanocapsules. The core of the capsules, which consists of a mixture of the linseed oil with chloroform, was prepared using the spontaneous emulsification technique. The obtained emulsions were stabilized with lecithin and encapsulated using the layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption of polyelectrolytes. The pair of biocompatible polyelectrolytes was used: the cationic poly-l-lysine hydrobromide (PLL) together with the anionic poly-d-glutamic acid sodium salt. The saturation LbL method, which is based on the stepwise formation of consecutive layers on the initial emulsion without the intermediate rinsing step, was applied to form the capsule shells. Their growth was evidenced by the capsule size and electrophoretic mobility measurements. The emulsion and the capsules were deposited on a mica surface and the deposit topology was examined by the means of atomic force microscopy (AFM). The presence of quantum dots within the oil cores was confirmed by recording the fluorescent spectra of the samples containing CdSe/ZnS. In order to evaluate cytotoxicity of the capsules, their influence on the viability of mouse embryonic fibroblasts was examined using the MTT test, followed by optical-microscope observation of morphology of the cells after hematoxylin-eosin staining.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Niezapominajek 8, Krakow 30-239, Poland. ncmadamc@cyf-kr.edu.pl
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adamczak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krok
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pamuła
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Posadowska
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Szczepanowicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbasz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Warszyński
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D045663:Quantum Dots; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D004573:Electrolytes; D053769:Nanocapsules; D011108:Polymers; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D008043:Linseed Oil; C058667:cadmium selenide