Preparation, cytotoxicity and in vivo bioimaging of highly luminescent water-soluble silicon quantum dots.
Designing various inorganic nanomaterials that are cost effective, water soluble, optically photostable, highly fluorescent and biocompatible for bioimaging applications is a challenging task. Similar to semiconducting quantum dots (QDs), silicon QDs are another alternative and are highly fluorescent, but non-water soluble. Several surface modification strategies were adopted to make them water soluble. However, the photoluminescence of Si QDs was seriously quenched in the aqueous environment. In this report, highly luminescent, water-dispersible, blue- and green-emitting Si QDs were prepared with good photostability. In vitro studies in monocytes reveal that Si QDs exhibit good biocompatibility and excellent distribution throughout the cytoplasm region, along with the significant fraction translocated into the nucleus. The in vivo zebrafish studies also reveal that Si QDs can be evenly distributed in the yolk-sac region. Overall, our results demonstrate the applicability of water-soluble and highly fluorescent Si QDs as excellent in vitro and in vivo bioimaging probes.
Chemical System Research Division, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, PO Box 90008-17, Lung-Tan, Tao-Yuan 32599, Taiwan.
Jing-Wun
JW
Fan
Raviraj
R
Vankayala
Chien-Liang
CL
Chang
Chia-Hua
CH
Chang
Chi-Shiun
CS
Chiang
Kuo Chu
KC
Hwang
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008422:Materials Testing; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012995:Solubility; D014867:Water; D015027:Zebrafish
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003287:Contrast Media; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D014867:Water; D012825:Silicon