Probing the Cytotoxicity Of Semiconductor Quantum Dots.

ABSTRACT: With their bright, photostable fluorescence, semiconductor quantum dots show promise as alternatives to organic dyes for biological labeling. Questions about their potential cytotoxicity, however, remain unanswered. While cytotoxicity of bulk cadmium selenide (CdSe) is well documented, a number of groups have suggested that CdSe QDs are cytocompatible, at least with some immortalized cell lines. Using primary hepatocytes as a liver model, we found that CdSe-core QDs were indeed acutely toxic under certain conditions. Specifically, we found that the cytotoxicity of QDs was modulated by processing parameters during synthesis, exposure to ultraviolet light, and surface coatings. Our data further suggests that cytotoxicity correlates with the liberation of free Cd²⁺ ions due to dete

SUBMITTER: Derfus AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5588688 | biostudies-literature | 2004 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature