Elemental Composition and Degradation Rate Impact the Biocompatibility of Copper Chalcogenide Nanocrystals.

ABSTRACT: Copper chalcogenide nanocrystals (NCs) are promising candidates for biophotonic applications due to their tunable optical properties. Concrete methods to examine the relationship between their degradation and toxicity are necessary to enable development of biocompatible nanoconstructs. This study compares the degradation and toxicity of three compositions of micelle-coated copper chalcogenide NCs: the fluorescent semiconductor copper indium sulfide (CuInS₂), and the plasmonic semiconductors copper sulfide (Cu_2-xS) and chalcopyrite copper iron sulfide (CuFeS₂). We developed a quantitative degradation assay to assess ion release from these ultra-small nanocrystals, revealing that while all three particles biodegrade, CuInS₂ and CuFeS₂ un

SUBMITTER: Zhong X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12724650 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature