title: Hydrophilic, bright CuInS2 quantum dots as Cd-free fluorescent labels in quantitative immunoassay.
abstract: We report on the synthesis of core-shell CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) in organic solution, their encapsulation with a PEG-containing amphiphilic polymer, and the application of the resulting water-soluble QDs as fluorescent label in quantitative immunoassay. By optimizing the methods for core synthesis and shell growth, CuInS2/ZnS QDs were obtained with a quantum yield of 50% on average after hydrophilization. After conjugation with an aflatoxin B1-protein derivative, the obtained QDs were used as fluorescent labels in microplate immunoassay for the quantitative determination of the mycotoxin aflatoxin B1. QDs-based immunoassay showed higher sensitivity compared to enzyme-based immunoassay.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University , Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Elena S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Speranskaya
authors.forename: Natalia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Beloglazova
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abé
authors.forename: Tangi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aubert
authors.forename: Philippe F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Smet
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Poelman
authors.forename: Irina Y
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Goryacheva
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Saeger
authors.forename: Zeger
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hens
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007118:Immunoassay; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots; D013440:Sulfides / Q000737:chemistry; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; D007204:Indium; D003300:Copper; C031238:zinc sulfide