title: Quantum dots loaded nanogels for low cytotoxicity, pH-sensitive fluorescence, cell imaging and drug delivery.
abstract: Nanogels (NGs) with drug tracking and delivery possess promising usage in clinical treatment. In this study, an available, low toxic and facile approach was developed to synthesize CdTe quantum dots loaded nanogels (QDs-NGs). The QDs-NGs retained the intrinsic pH sensitivity of the QDs with regard to the fluorescence intensity. The QDs-NGs were easily internalized by the cells as fluorescence probes, and acted as carriers for delivering methotrexate (MTX). The cellular uptake indicated that the QDs-NGs can protect QDs from decomposition in cytoplasm and retain the native fluorescence intensity. MTT assay demonstrated that the QDs-NGs greatly decreased the cytotoxicity of the QDs. The MTX loaded QDs-NGs exhibited slow release property in PBS buffer. Moreover, the MTX loaded QDs-NGs distinctly enhanced the availability of drug. The QDs-NGs are potential nanocarriers for the cell imaging and drug delivery.
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China.
authors: Zhenshun
authors: Z
authors: Li
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Xu
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Yuntao
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Bakht Ramin
authors: BR
authors: Shah
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Chunlan
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Yijie
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: libinfood@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D002470:Cell Survival; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels
keywords: Cell imaging; Drug delivery; Low cytotoxicity; Nanogels; Quantum dots