Synthesis, optical and morphological characterization of CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots for cytotoxicity studies

摘要

Colon cancer (CC) ranks high in morbidity and mortality amongst the most frequent occurring cancers worldwide. Mortality rates are mostly caused by mis-diagnosis and the poor efficacy of treatment. The aim of this study was to enhance our insights of quantum dots, for early detection and targeted drug delivery, thereby reducing toxicity to normal cells and reducing side effects that are caused by previous colon cancer medicine. The synthesis, characterization and cytotoxicity studies of CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots (QDs), nanocrystals are reported. Toxicological properties of the Cd2+ core are reduced by capping quantum dots with ZnSe, varying chain length and functional group ligands. Fluorescence wavelength and their size is improved by varying Cd2+ source and varying nanocrystal synthesis growth temperature. CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots are characterized with FT-IR to elucidate their structure. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-Ray Diffraction (EDX), Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) are used to measure their size and composition. Ligand exchange reactions are conducted with the use of 3-Mercaptopropanoic acid (3-MPA) to facilitate bio-compatibility and stability of CdSe/ZnSe QDs. Temperature stability of various ligand capped and stabilized CdSe/ZnSe QDs are measured by using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Caco-2 cell line is cultured from colon cancer, and cytotoxic studies are conducted to test for cell viability of various capped 3-Mercaptopropanoic acid (3-MPA) CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots at various concentrations. Myristic acid capped CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots produce high fluorescing mono-disperse quantum dots. The capping material, synthesis temperature and Cd2+ source of CdSe/ZnSe QDs affect fluorescence wavelength and thermal stability of quantum dots. Fluorescence wavelength is improved by using CdCl2.7H2O source of Cd2+. Cytotoxicity was found to be dependent on the concentration and the capping material of quantum dots. CdSe/ZnSe quantum dots toxicity is adjusted and reduced by varying the length, size and type of the capping ligand on the surface of quantum dots.