Quantum dots for multiplexed biological imaging

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2023

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of the Western Cape

Abstract

Over the past two decades, indium phosphide (InP) colloidal quantum dots (QDs) have attracted substantial interest as a possibly less hazardous alternative to cadmium-based QDs. The improvements in their colloidal synthesis techniques have made it possible to synthesize a wide range of compositions, and ligands with perfect quantum yields close to unity, spectrum tunability from blue to near-infrared, and narrow emission linewidths. Additionally, InP QDs have better optical stability than cadmium chalcogenides due to their higher covalency. Modern InP QDs have demonstrated superior performance in a wide range of applications, including solar cells with strong commercial potential, luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs), and light-emitting diodes. The use of non-cadmium-based quantum dots (QDs) as highly effective, non-toxic optical probes for bioimaging is discussed in this study. Core/ shell InP/ZnS and InP/ZnSe QDs were synthesized using tris (dialkylamino) phosphines via one-pot synthesis. Water compatibility was achieved through ligand exchange with 3- mercaptopropionic acid. Chitosan was further added to make the QDs more stable and less toxic. All the synthesized QDs were characterized with UV-Vis, PL, FTIR, and HRTEM.

Description

>Magister Scientiae - MSc

Keywords

Quantum dots, Indium Phosphide, Bioimaging, Cytotoxicity

Citation