title: Fabrication of MnFe2O4-CuInS2/ZnS Magnetofluorescent Nanocomposites and Their Characterization.
abstract: Magnetofluorescent nanocomposites (MFNCs) providing a single nanoscale platform with multimodal properties are gaining momentum in biological manipulation, biomedical imaging and therapy. In this work, we report the preparation of MFNCs integrating MnFe2O4magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PEG-PLGA) in a tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water solvent system. Through sonication and quick solvent displacement, multiple nanoparticles of each type are co-encapsulated within the hydrophobic core of PEG-PLGA micelles. The developed fabrication process is simple and fast. Moreover, due to the low toxicity of CuInS2/ZnS QDs, the fabrication process is environmentally benign. The fabricated MFNCs were further characterized regarding their fundamental physical, chemical and biological properties. Results reveal that the MFNCs possess high (Mn + Fe) recovery rates, and the optical properties and magnetic relaxivity of the MFNCs are sensitive to the MNP:QD mass ratios in the fabrication. Furthermore, the MFNCs present excellent stability in aqueous solutions, minimal cytotoxicity, and capability for bioconjugation. This study opens an avenue for the MFNCs to be employed in broad biological or biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Violeta G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Demillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Mingxia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaoshan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Redelman
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Nelson G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Publicover
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Program, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA ; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Hunter