Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The cytotoxicity studies of water-soluble InP/ZnSe quantum dots

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Nanoparticle Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biomedical applications require nanocrystals with a narrow emission spectra and low toxicity. One major challenge of using quantum dots (QDs) in biomedical studies has been to synthesize them in large quantities while retaining desirable optical properties. To date, no research has been carried out to scale up the synthesis of InP/ZnSe nanocrystals. In this regard we synthesized InP/ZnSe nanocrystals using lower volumes and masses and scaled up the synthesis while retaining their molar ratios. The properties of the products obtained in small scale and scaled up syntheses were compared in regard to changes in particle size, emission wavelength and the trend of fluorescence of the aliquots. The particle size for the small scale reaction was determined to be 4.18 nm. When the synthesis was scaled up by a factor of 2, 4 and 6, the sizes were found to increase to 4.31, 4.13 and 4.37 nm, respectively. We also demonstrated the ability to tune the emission wavelength by sorting the particles in the crude product to different sizes. The size sorting process gave QDs with varied emission wavelengths and also narrow emission spectra. We further demonstrated a facile method for their water solubility as well as suitability for various biological applications. The toxicity of the synthesized InP/ZnSe nanocrystals was investigated. The cytotoxicity studies were carried out using two different types of non-cancerous human cell lines, namely KMST6 and MCF-12A, which clearly showed that the nanocrystals have low toxicity and are suitable for biological applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abràmofff MD, Magalhães PJ, Ram SJ (2005) Image processing with ImageJ Part II. Biophotonics Int 11:36–43. doi:10.1117/1.3589100

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunetti V, Chibli H, Fiammengo R et al (2012) InP/ZnS as a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots: an in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment. Nanoscale. doi:10.1039/c2nr33024e

    Google Scholar 

  • Byun HJ, Lee JC, Yang H (2011a) Solvothermal synthesis of InP quantum dots and their enhanced luminescent efficiency by post-synthetic treatments. J Colloid Interface Sci 355:35–41. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2010.12.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byun H-J, Song W-S, Yang H (2011b) Facile consecutive solvothermal growth of highly fluorescent InP/ZnS core/shell quantum dots using a safer phosphorus source. Nanotechnology 22:1–6. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/22/23/235605

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan WCW, Nie S (1998) Quantum dot bioconjugates for ultrasensitive nonisotopic detection. Science 281:2016–2018. doi:10.1126/science.281.5385.2016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen O, Wei H, Maurice A et al (2013) Pure colors from core—shell quantum dots. MRS Bull 38:696–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho E, Jang H, Lee J, Jang E (2013) Modeling on the size dependent properties of InP quantum dots: a hybrid functional study. Nanotechnology 24:215201. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/24/21/215201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cros-Gagneux A, Delpech F, Nayral C et al (2010) Surface chemistry of InP quantum dots: a comprehensive study. J Am Chem Soc 132:18147–18157. doi:10.1021/ja104673y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui J, Beyler AP, Coropceanu I et al (2015) The evolution of the single-nanocrystal fluorescence linewidth with size and shell: implications for exciton-phonon coupling and the optimization of spectral linewidths. Nano Lett 16:289–296. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b03790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gary DC, Cossairt BM (2013) The role of acid in modulating precursor conversion in InP-QD synthesis. Chem Mater 25:2463–2469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gary DC, Glassya B, Cossairt BM (2014) Investigation of indium phosphide quantum dot nucleation and growth utilizing triarylsilylphosphine precursors. Chem Mater 26:1734–1744. 10.1021/cm500102q

  • Gary DC, Terban MW, Billinge SJL, Cossairt BM (2015) Two-step nucleation and growth of InP quantum dots via magic- sized cluster intermediates. Chem Mater 27:1432–1441. doi:10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godt J, Scheidig F, Grosse-Siestrup C et al (2006) The toxicity of cadmium and resulting hazards for human health. J Occup Med Toxicol 1:1–6. doi:10.1186/1745-6673-1-22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joung S, Yoon S, Han C et al (2012) Facile synthesis of uniform large-sized InP nanocrystal quantum dots using tris (tert—butyldimethylsilyl) phosphine. Nanoscale Res Lett 7:93. doi:10.1186/1556-276X-7-93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li L, Protière M, Reiss P (2008) Economic synthesis of high quality InP nanocrystals using calcium phosphide as the phosphorus precursor. Chem Mater 20:2621–2623. doi:10.1021/cm7035579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mocatta D, Cohen G, Schattner J et al (2011) Heavily doped semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots. Science 332:77–81. doi:10.1126/science.1196321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mushonga P, Onani MO, Madiehe AM, Meyer M (2013) One-pot synthesis and characterization of InP/ZnSe semiconductor nanocrystals. Mater Lett 95:37–39. doi:10.1016/j.matlet.2012.12.102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naqvi S, Samim M, Abdin MZ et al (2010) Concentration-dependent toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles mediated by increased oxidative stress. Int J Nanomedicine 5:983–989. doi:10.2147/IJN.S13244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park J, Kim S, Kim S et al (2010) Fabrication of highly luminescent InP/Cd and InP/CdS quantum dots. J Lumin 130:1825–1828. doi:10.1016/j.jlumin.2010.04.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riffle JS, Harris-shekhawat L, Carmichael-baranauskas A et al (2009) Cell uptake and in vitro toxicity of magnetic nanoparticles suitable for drug delivery. Mol Pharm 6:1417–1428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sapsford KE, Pons T, Medintz IL, Mattoussi H (2006) Biosensing with luminescent semiconductor quantum dots. Sensors 6:925–953. doi:10.3390/s6080925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Senthilkumar K, Kalaivani T, Kanagesan S et al (2013) Wurtzite ZnSe quantum dots: synthesis, characterization and PL properties. J Mater Sci 24:692–696. doi:10.1007/s10854-012-0796-4

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukanya D, Sagayaraj P (2015) Facile synthesis and characterization of MPA capped CdSe and CdSe/ZnS nanocrystals. Int J Chem Tech Res 7:1421–1425

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas A, Nair PV, George Thomas K, Thomas KG (2014) InP quantum dots: an environmentally friendly material with resonance energy transfer requisites. J Phys Chem C 118:3838–3845. doi:10.1021/jp500125v

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie R, Peng X (2009) Synthesis of Cu-doped InP nanocrystals (d-dots) with ZnSe diffusion barrier as efficient and color-tunable NIR emitters. J Am Chem Soc 131:10645–10651. doi:10.1021/ja903558r

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu WW, Chang E, Drezek R, Colvin VL (2006) Water-soluble quantum dots for biomedical applications. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 348:781–786. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.07.160

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are indebted to DST/MINTEK Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, Nation Research foundation (NRF) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) for financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa

    Ayabei Kiplagat & Martin O. Onani

  2. Department of Biotechnology, DST/Mintek Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, South Africa

    Nicole R. S. Sibuyi, Mervin Meyer & Abram M. Madiehe

Authors
  1. Ayabei Kiplagat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nicole R. S. Sibuyi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Martin O. Onani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mervin Meyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Abram M. Madiehe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin O. Onani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kiplagat, A., Sibuyi, N.R.S., Onani, M.O. et al. The cytotoxicity studies of water-soluble InP/ZnSe quantum dots. J Nanopart Res 18, 147 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3455-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-016-3455-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation