title: Highly Fluorescent Ribonuclease-A-Encapsulated Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots for Ultrasensitive Fluorescencein VivoImaging in the Second Near-Infrared Window.
abstract: Ribonuclease-A (RNase-A) encapsulated PbS quantum dots (RNase-A@PbS Qdots) which emit in the second near-infrared biological window (NIR-II,ca. 1000-1400 nm) are rapidly synthesized under microwave heating. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the Qdots can be tuned across the entire NIR-II range by simply controlling synthesis temperature. The size and morphology of the Qdots are examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Quantum yield (Φf) measurement confirms that the prepared Qdots are one of the brightest water-soluble NIR-II emitters forin vivoimaging. Their high Φf(∼17.3%) and peak emission at ∼1300 nm ensure deep optical penetration to muscle tissues (up to 1.5 cm) and excellent imaging contrast at an extremely low threshold dose of ∼5.2 pmol (∼1 μg) per mouse. Importantly, this protein coated Qdot displays no signs of toxicity toward model neuron, normal, and cancer cellsin vitro. In addition, the animal's metabolism results in thorough elimination of intravenously injected Qdots from the body within several days via the reticuloendothelial system (RES), which minimizes potential long-term toxicityin vivofrom possible release of lead content. With a combination of attractive properties of high brightness, robust photostability, and excellent biocompatibility, this new NIR-II emitting Qdot is highly promising in accurate disease screening and diagnostic applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Astbury Structure for Molecular Biology, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Yifei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University , Shanghai 200040, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai 200025, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heath
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai 200025, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Astbury Structure for Molecular Biology, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University , Shanghai 200040, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yunxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Astbury Structure for Molecular Biology, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University , Shanghai 200040, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Shiyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Astbury Structure for Molecular Biology, University of Leeds , Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Dejian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou