title: The interactions between CdSe quantum dots and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae: adhesion of quantum dots to the cell surface and the protection effect of ZnS shell.
abstract: The interactions between quantum dots (QDs) and biological systems have attracted increasing attention due to concerns on possible toxicity of the nanoscale materials. The biological effects of CdSe QDs and CdSe/ZnS QDs with nearly identical hydrodynamic size on Saccharomyces cerevisiae were investigated via microcalorimetric, spectroscopic and microscopic methods, demonstrating a toxic order CdSe>CdSe/ZnS QDs. CdSe QDs damaged yeast cell wall and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential. Noteworthy, adhesion of QDs to the yeast cell surface renders this work a good example of interaction site at cell surface, and the epitaxial coating of ZnS could greatly reduce the toxicity of Cd-containing QDs. These results will contribute to the safety evaluation of quantum dots, and provide valuable information for design of nanomaterials.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Li-Yun
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Zi-Qiang
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science and Chemistry, Wuhan Donghu University, Wuhan 430212, PR China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China. Electronic address: fljiang@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Feng-Lei
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology & Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (MOE), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, PR China. Electronic address: yiliuchem@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D002151:Calorimetry; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000633:toxicity*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D013440:Sulfides / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D013440:Sulfides; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C058667:cadmium selenide; C031238:zinc sulfide
keywords: Biological effect; CdSe QDs; Microcalorimetry; Toxicity; Yeast