title: A new strategy for synthesizing AgInS₂ quantum dots emitting brightly in near-infrared window for in vivo imaging.
abstract: A new strategy for fabricating water-dispersible AgInS2 quantum dots (QDs) with bright near-infrared (NIR) emission is demonstrated. A type of multidentate polymer (MDP) was synthesized and utilized as a compact capping ligand for the AgInS2 QDs. Using silver nitrate, indium acetate and sulfur-hydrazine hydrate complex as the precursors, MDP-capping AgInS2 QDs were synthesized in aqueous solution at room temperature. Characterization indicates that the MDP-capping AgInS2 QDs are highly photoluminescent in NIR window and possess good photostability. Also, the QDs are stable in different media and have low cytotoxicity. Nude mice photoluminescence imaging shows that the MDP-capping AgInS2 QDs can be well applied to in vivo imaging. These readily prepared NIR fluorescent nanocrystals have huge potential for biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, and Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: tanlianjiang@126.com.
authors.forename: Lianjiang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education and College of Textile & Clothing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors.forename: Shuiping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Eco-Textiles, Ministry of Education and College of Textile & Clothing, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, DTU Food, Søltofts plads, B227, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ioannis S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chronakis
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine, Key Laboratory of Systems Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, and Bio-ID Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China. Electronic address: yumeishen@sjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yumei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D006834:Hydrazines / Q000737:chemistry; D007204:Indium / Q000737:chemistry; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D049449:Luminescence; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D058105:Polymerization; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012835:Silver Nitrate / Q000737:chemistry; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D006834:Hydrazines; D015335:Molecular Probes; D007204:Indium; C023704:2-acetamidoethanethiol; D003543:Cysteamine; D013455:Sulfur; D012835:Silver Nitrate
keywords: AgInS(2) quantum dots; In vivo imaging; Multidentate polymer; Near-infrared