In vitro toxicity assessment of amphiphillic polymer-coated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots in two human liver cell models.

ABSTRACT: Semiconductor quantum dots (Qdots) are a promising new technology with benefits in the areas of medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Qdots generally consist of a semiconductor core, capping shell, and surface coating. The semiconductor core of Qdots is often composed of group II and VI metals (e.g., Cd, Se, Te, Hg) that are known to have toxic properties. Various surface coatings have been shown to stabilize Qdots and thus shield cells from the toxic properties of their core elements. In this study, HepG2 cells and primary human liver (PHL) cells were chosen as in vitro tissue culture models of human liver to examine the possible adverse effects of tri-n-octylphosphine oxide, poly(maleic anhydride-alt-1-tetradecene) copolymer (TOPO-PMAT)-coated CdSe/ZnS Qdots (TOPO-PMAT Qdots). The TOPO-P

SUBMITTER: Smith WE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3671920 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature