title: Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cell Imaging Using Cadmium-Free Quantum Dots.
abstract: Quantum dots (QDs) have received much attention for biomolecule and cell imaging applications because of their superior optical properties such as high quantum efficiency, size-tunable emission, and resistance to photobleaching process. However, QDs that are commercially available contain cadmium (Cd), a highly toxic element. Thus, the development of Cd-free and less toxic QDs is strongly desired. In this study, we developed Cd-free QDs (ZnS-coated ZnS-AgInS2 solid solution nanoparticles with a sulfo group: ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H) and investigated the ability of this material to label stem cells. ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H could be transduced into mouse adipose tissue-derived stem cells (mASCs) using octaarginine peptides (R8), known as cell-penetrating peptides. The optimal ratio of ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H:R8 was found to be 1:100 for labeling mASCs. More than 80% of mASCs labeled with 500 nM ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H were found to be alive, and the proliferation rates of labeled mASCs were maintained at the same rate as that of nonlabeled mASCs. In addition, no abnormalities in the morphology of mASCs labeled with ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H could be observed. These data suggest that ZnS-ZAIS-SO3H may be effective for the labeling of mASCs.
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Engineering , Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya , Japan.
authors: Yoshiyuki
authors: Y
authors: Miyazaki
authors: † FIRST Research Center for Innovative Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University , Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya , Japan.
authors: Hiroshi
authors: H
authors: Yukawa
authors: ‡ Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Nagoya University Graduate School of Engineering , Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya , Japan.
authors: Hiroyasu
authors: H
authors: Nishi
authors: † FIRST Research Center for Innovative Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University , Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya , Japan.
authors: Yukihiro
authors: Y
authors: Okamoto
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Engineering, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; †FIRST Research Center for Innovative Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Noritada
authors: N
authors: Kaji
authors: ‡ Department of Crystalline Materials Science, Nagoya University Graduate School of Engineering , Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya , Japan.
authors: Tsukasa
authors: T
authors: Torimoto
authors: Department of Applied Chemistry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Engineering, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; †FIRST Research Center for Innovative Nanobiodevices, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan; §Health Technology Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Hayashi-cho, Takamatsu, Japan.
authors: Yoshinobu
authors: Y
authors: Baba
keywords: Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs); Cadmium-free quantum dots (Cd-free QDs); Octaarginine (R8)