title: Effects of surface modification of quantum dots on viability and migration of triple-negative breast cancer cells.
abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer (BC) shows strong metastasis and has a bad prognosis. There are few effective approaches until date to detect BC cells at an early stage. Quantum dots (QDs) are one of the most promising nanomaterials for the detection of BC cells. QDs are usually modified with some functional molecules, such as PEG and BSA, to decrease or possibly eliminate their toxicity. Although a large number of studies have investigated the cytotoxicity of QDs, the effects of surface modification of QDs on biological behaviors of triple-negative BC cells remain unclear. In this work, QDs were prepared using the hydrothermal method and chemically modified with PEG and BSA. The optical performance of QDs was recorded with a digital camera. Their absorption and fluorescence (FL) properties were analyzed by UV-Vis spectrometer and FL spectrophotometer, respectively. The effects of QDs and surface modification on viability and migration were principally investigated. The possible mechanism was primarily analyzed. The results show that QDs exhibit excellent optical performance under ultraviolet irradiation. Surface modification slightly reduces the photon count reaching the QDs surface. Moreover, surface modification results in a blue-shift of FL peak of QDs, which is ascribed to the change in surface chemical environment because of PEG and BSA modifications. In addition, QDs, PEG coated QDs (PEG@CdTe) and BSA coated QDs (BSA@CdTe) can reduce viability and inhibit migration of BC cells. The inhibition effects are time- and concentration-dependent. In addition, PEG and BSA modified QDs exhibit lower inhibition effects on BC cells, as compared with unmodified QDs. In this process, Reactive oxygen species (ROS) does not appear to play an important role, and other pathways should be considered. This work provides experimental support and useful clinical guidance for QDs-applications in BC detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Hetao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Kunmeng
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Xinyue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China. Electronic address: wbqpaper@126.com.
authors.forename: Baiqi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D017785:Photons; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013499:Surface Properties; D064726:Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols
keywords: Breast cancer; Migration; Quantum dots; Surface modification; Viability