Interaction of CdTe Quantum Dots with 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl Free Radical: A Spectroscopic, Fluorimetric and Kinetic Study

The interaction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^●) free radical with thiol-capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) has been studied by UV–vis spectroscopy, steady state and time resolved fluorescence measurements. Addition of DPPH^● radical to CdTe QDs resulted in fluorescence quenching. The interaction occurs through static quenching as this was confirmed by fluorescence lifetime measurements. Time course absorption studies indicates that DPPH^● may be reduced by interaction with QDs to the substituted hydrazine form (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine) DPPH-H. The mechanism of fluorescence quenching of CdTe QDs by DPPH^● is proposed.     

Synthesis of Functionalized ZnSe Nanoparticles and Their Applications in the Determination of Bovine Serum Albumin

Luminescent quantum dots (QDs)-semiconductor nanocrystals were promising alternative to organic dyes for fluorescence-based applications. In this paper, we developed procedures to use mercaptoacetic acid (MAA) to modify ZnSe nanoparticles and made the nanoparticles to be soluble for the quantitative and selective determination of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Maximum fluorescence intensity was produced at pH 7.0, with excitation and emission wavelengths at 242 and 348 nm, respectively. Under optimal conditions, the straight line equation: ^△ F = 0.38 + 0.34 C (μg/ml) was found between the relative fluorescence intensity and the concentration of BSA in the range of 9.6–124.8 μg/ml, and the limit of detection was 2 μg/ml.     

不同巯基试剂修饰的CdTe量子点与BSA相互作用研究

修饰试剂对量子点的合成、性质具有重要的影响,但目前有关修饰试剂对量子点与蛋白质间相互作用的影响尚不清楚。采用紫外-可见吸收光谱、荧光光谱及红外光谱研究了3种巯基化合物(巯基乙酸,TGA;L-半胱氨酸,L-Cys;还原型谷胱甘肽,GSH)修饰的CdTe量子点与牛血清白蛋白(BSA)的相互作用。通过Stern-Volmer方程对数据进行了分析,得到了不同CdTe量子点与BSA相互作用过程的ΔHθ,ΔGθ和ΔSθ,并比较了CdTe量子点的不同修饰剂对BSA荧光猝灭的影响。研究结果表明,3种修饰试剂包覆的CdTe量子点与BSA的相互作用均为静态猝灭过程,猝灭常数KSV(L-Cys)KSV(TGA)≈KSV(GSH);TGA和L-Cys修饰的CdTe量子点与BSA的结合力主要为疏水作用力,而GSH修饰的量子点与其结合力既有氢键作用力又有疏水作用力;这些结果说明量子点与BSA的作用过程与量子点表面修饰试剂的类型有关。     

Microwave-Assisted Aqueous Synthesis of Highly Luminescent Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Coated CdTe/CdS Quantum Dots as Fluorescent Probe for Live Cell Imaging

This paper describes the development of a simplified and rapid method for the aqueous synthesis of quantum dots (QDs) with CdTe cores and gradient CdS external shells (CdTe/CdS QDs) aided by microwave irradiation. Several synthesis parameters, such as molar ratio of reagents, pH, reaction temperature, and reaction time, were studied in details. Under the optimized conditions, highly effective CdTe/CdS QDs could be synthesized in aqueous phase in only 15 min. In order to improve the biocompatibility of the CdTe/CdS QDs, these QDs were then interacted with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) so as they could be used as fluorescent probes in the aqueous phase. With the incorporation of CMC, the stability of modified QDs was found to have improved significantly (from 4 months to more than 10 months at room temperature). The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of the modified QDs could reach 75%, other parameters include a full width at half maximum of the emission (FWHM) spectrum as 40 ~ 60 nm, and an average size, estimated from electron microscopic images, as 3.5 nm. As fluorescent probes, these modified QDs were successfully used for imaging live Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, in which the preliminary results indicated that these modified QDs demonstrated good biocompatibility and showed promising applications for bio-labeling and imaging.     

Mechanistic Aspects of Quantum Dot Based Probing of Cu (II) Ions: Role of Dendrimer in Sensor Efficiency

Selective quenching of luminescence of quantum dots (QDs) by Cu²⁺ ions vis-à-vis other physiologically relevant cations has been reexamined. In view of the contradiction regarding the mechanism, we have attempted to show why Cu²⁺ ions quench QD-luminescence by taking CdS and CdTe QDs with varying surface groups. A detailed study of the solvent effect and also size dependence on the observed luminescence has been carried out. For a 13% decrease in particle diameter (4.3 nm →3.7 nm), the quenching constant increased by a factor of 20. It is established that instead of surface ligands of QDs, conduction band potential of the core facilitates the photo-induced reduction of Cu (II) to Cu (I) thereby quenching the photoluminescence. Taking the advantage of biocompatibility of dendrimer and its high affinity towards Cu²⁺ ions, we have followed interaction of Cu²⁺-PAMAM and also dendrimer with the CdTe QDs. Nanomolar concentration of PAMAM dendrimer was found to quench the luminescence of CdTe QDs. In contrast, Cu²⁺-PAMAM enhanced the fluorescence of CdTe QDs and the effect has been attributed to the binding of Cu²⁺-PAMAM complex to the CdTe particle surface. The linear portion of the enhancement plot due to Cu²⁺-PAMAM can be used for determination of Cu²⁺ ions with detection limit of 70 nM.     

Binding of Engeletin with Bovine Serum Albumin: Insights from Spectroscopic Investigations

In this paper, several spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate the interaction of engeletin (ELN) with bovine serum albumin (BSA). The analysis of UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence spectra revealed that ELN and BSA formed a static complex ELN–BSA, and ELN quenched the fluorescence of BSA effectively. According to the thermodynamic parameters ΔS ⁰ = 47.27 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ and ΔΗ ⁰ = −10.34 kJ·mol⁻¹, the hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions were suggested to be the major interaction forces between ELN and BSA. Raman spectroscopy indicated that the binding of ELN slightly changed the conformations and microenviroment of BSA and decreased the α–helix content of BSA.     

CdTe量子点标记雌二醇衍生物的研究

以巯基乙酸为修饰剂合成高量子产率的CdTe量子点,并成功标记生物小分子17β-氨基雌二醇.紫外光谱、荧光光谱、红外光谱以及倒置显微镜照片分析表明CdTe量子点在活化剂N-羟基琥珀酰亚胺的作用下,通过表面的羧基与17β-氨基雌二醇的氨基以共价键结合,这为建立基于量子点探针的新型的药物筛选模型提供了实验基础.     

A simple fluorescence quenching method for roxithromycin determination using CdTe quantum dots as probes

A new method for the determination of roxithromycin based on the fluorescence quenching of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-capped CdTe quantum dots (MPA-CdTe QDs) was developed. In ethanol medium, the fluorescence of CdTe quantum dots at 552 nm was quenched in the presence of roxithromycin. Based on this a simple, sensitive, and selective method for rapid determination of roxithromycin was described. Reaction time, interfering substances on the fluorescence quenching, and mechanism of the interaction of CdTe QDs with roxithromycin were investigated. After optimization, the proposed method allows the determination of roxithromycin over the range 25.0-350.0 μg ml⁻¹. The detection limit is 4.6 μg ml⁻¹. The proposed method was successfully applied to commercial capsules and tablets with satisfactory results. The recovery of the method was in the range of 96.8-102.5%.     

Quantum dot bio-conjugate: as a western blot probe for highly sensitive detection of cellular proteins

In the present study, we report a quantum dot (QD)-tailored western blot analysis for a sensitive, rapid and flexible detection of the nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins. Highly luminescent CdTe and (CdTe)ZnS QDs are synthesized by aqueous method. High resolution transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction are used to characterize the properties of the quantum dots. The QDs are functionalized with antibodies of prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases and β actin to specifically bind with the proteins localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cells, respectively. The QD-conjugated antibodies are used to overcome the limitations of conventional western blot technique. The sensitivity and rapidity of protein detection in QD-based approach is very high, with detection limits up to 10 pg of protein. In addition, these labels provide the capability of enhanced identification and localization of marker proteins in intact cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Photoinduced interaction between MPA capped CdTe QDs and certain anthraquinone dyes

Photoinduced interaction of mercapto propionic acid (MPA) capped CdTe quantum dots (QDs) with certain anthraquinone dyes namely alizarin, alizarin red S, acid blue 129 and uniblue has been studied by steady state and time resolved fluorescence measurements. Addition of anthraquinone dyes to CdTe QDs results in the reduction of electron hole recombination has been observed (i.e., fluorescence quenching). The Stern-Volmer constant (K_SV), quenching rate constant (k_q) and association constants (K) were obtained from fluorescence quenching data. The interaction of anthraquinone dyes with QDs occurs through static quenching was confirmed by unaltered fluorescence lifetime. The occurrence of electron transfer quenching mechanism has been proved by the negative free energy change (ΔG_et) obtained as per the Rehm-Weller equation.     

Study on the Interaction Between Water-Soluble CdTe Quantum Dots and Ovalbumin by Optical Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT

CdTe quantum dots (QDs) modified by 2-mercaptoethylamine hydrochloride (CA) and thioglycolic acid (TGA), respectively, were synthesized in aqueous medium. The interaction of CdTe QDs with ovalbumin has been investigated in depth by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence-quenching spectrometry, and resonance Rayleigh scattering spectroscopy (RRS). Fluorescence data show that the quenching type of ovalbumin by CA-CdTe QDs is static quenching with the binding constant being 10^?4 M^?1, and the number of binding sites being one. The calculated thermodynamic parameters demonstrate that the main binding forces are hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic attraction. In contrast, the quenching style of ovalbumin by TGA-CdTe QDs is verified to be dynamic quenching. Under suitable acidity conditions, the interaction of CA-CdTe QDs or TGA-CdTe QDs with ovalbumin leads to the remarkable enhancement of RRS, and the increments are found to be proportional to the concentration of ovalbumin in a certain range. A simple and highly sensitive RRS approach for determining ovalbumin is developed. In addition, the causes for the enhancement of RRS and the quenching of fluorescence are investigated to shed light on the quenching mechanism.     

Study on the interaction of CdTe quantum dots with ferulic acid and protocatechuic aldehyde by optical spectroscopy

Luminescent CdTe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized using thioglycolic acid (TGA) as a stabilizing agent in aqueous medium and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In weak basic media the fluorescence of TGA-CdTe QDs was quenched notably by ferulic acid (FA) and protocatechuic aldehyde (PA), and the quenching values were proportional to the concentration of the quenchers in a certain range. The addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA) to TGA-CdTe QDs-FA and TGA-CdTe QDs-PA systems rendered a large recovery of the fluorescence of TGA-CdTe QDs.     

水溶性量子点荧光探针用于帕珠沙星的含量测定

文章采用荧光光谱和紫外光谱研究了CdTe量子点(CdTe QDs)与广谱抗菌药物帕珠沙星的相互作用。结果表明,随着帕珠沙星浓度的增加,CdTe QDs荧光强度有规律的降低,但通过透射电镜图对QDs及加入帕珠沙星后的QDs进行比较,发现QDs仍然均一单分散,表明反应的作用机理可能是帕珠沙星促使QDs表面键合的有机分子发生变化,在Cd空位表现出的表面缺损上形成了碲氧复合物,致使荧光猝灭。因此该反应可作为一种新颖的快速检测帕珠沙星含量的方法。在一定条件下,帕珠沙星溶液的浓度与量子点荧光强度成线性关系,线性范围为10.0～850 μg·mL-1,相关系数r为0.995 4,检测限(S/N=3)为3.254×10-3 μg·mL-1。药物对量子点的猝灭常数为2.188×104 L·mol-1。应用到冻干粉针剂和氯化钠注射液中帕珠沙星的含量测定,所得结果与标示量一致。该方法较常用检测方法具有简便、快捷、灵敏、线性范围宽的优点,并有望进一步开展发药物体内显像及作用机理的研究。     

CdTe quantum dots as fluorescence sensor for the determination of aminophylline in aqueous solution

A novel CdTe quantum dots (QDs) based technology platform was established in aqueous solution. It can perform accurate and simple determination of aminophylline concentration in pharmaceutical samples with satisfactory results. Under optimum conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity of CdTe quantum dots is linearly proportional aminophylline concentration from 2.00 to 80.0 μg mL^?1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9979 for aminophylline determination and a detection limit of 0.531 μg mL^?1.     

PARAFAC Analysis of the Quenching of EEM of Fluorescence of Glutathione Capped CdTe Quantum Dots by Pb(II)

Glutathione capped CdTe quantum dots (QD) were synthesised using a simple experimental procedure and two samples were subjected of study (QD₅₅₀ and QD₆₀₀). The maximum of the excitation and emission spectra and the emission full width of half maximum of these two QD were: QD₅₅₀, 307, 550 and 37 nm; QD₆₀₀, 307, 600 and 39 nm. The steady state fluorescence properties of the two QD undergo variation when the pH of the aqueous solution is varied and are characterised by different apparent pKa: QD₅₅₀, 5.2 ± 0.1; QD₆₀₀, 6.3 ± 0.3. The fluorescence intensity of the QD₅₅₀ is markedly quenched by the presence of micromolar quantities of Pb(II) ion (Stern–Volmer constant of about 7 × 10⁵ M⁻¹). PARAFAC analysis of the excitation emission matrices (EEM) of QD₅₅₀ acquired as function of the Pb(II) ion showed that only one linearly independent component describes the quenching of the QD₅₅₀ by the Pb(II) ion allowing robust estimation of the excitation and emission spectra and of the quenching profiles.     

Static quenching of bovine serum albumin conjugated with small size CdS nanocrystalline quantum dots

The author reports on a strong fluorescence quenching of a model transport protein, bovine serum albumin BSA, when bioconjugated with CdS quantum dots QDs. The 4.4 nm size CdS QDs were synthesized using wet chemistry method and were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy SEM and X-ray diffraction XRD techniques. It was found that the BSA fluorescence quenching increases linearly with increasing the CdS QDs concentrations in the range of 3×10⁻⁷-2.0×10⁻⁶ mol L⁻¹. This quenching is explained in terms of Stern-Volmer equation and is ascribed to static quenching with quenching constant 1.321×10⁴ L mol⁻¹ at 300 K.     

Biophysical Studies on the Interactions of a Classic Mitochondrial Uncoupler with Bovine Serum Albumin by Spectroscopic,Isothermal Titration Calorimetric and Molecular Modeling Methods

The interaction between a classic uncoupler (2,4-dinitrophenol, DNP) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy under the physiological conditions. The fluorescence quenching constants were calculated by the Stern-Volmer equation, and based upon the temperature dependence of quenching constants, it was proved that DNP caused a static quenching of the intrinsic fluorescence of BSA. Owing to the static quenching mechanism, different associative binding constants at various temperatures were determined and thus the thermodynamic parameters, namely enthalpy (ΔH = −21.12 kJ mol⁻¹) and entropy changes (ΔS = 23.51 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹) could be calculated based on the binding constants. Moreover, the enthalpy and entropy changes are consistent with the “Enthalpy-Entropy Compensation” equation obtained from our previous work. The negative enthalpy and positive entropy indicated that the electrostatic interactions played a major role in DNP-BSA binding process. Site marker competitive displacement experiments were carried out by using fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) methods. These results showed that DNP bound with high affinity to Sudlow’s site I (subdomain IIA) of BSA. The distance (r = 3.78 nm) between donor (BSA) and acceptor (DNP) was obtained according to the mechanism of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Furthermore, the results of synchronous fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies indicated that the microenvironment and the secondary conformation of BSA were altered. The above results were supported by theoretical molecular modeling methods.     

CdS quantum dots for measurement of the size-dependent optical properties of thiol capping

Abstract  

The optical- and size-dependent properties of CdS quantum dots (QDs) were analyzed in the presence and absence of different capping agents in aqueous medium. The QDs have been characterized by UV–Vis, Photoluminescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fluorescence lifetime measurements. QDs with the presence of thiol group in cubic phase with small grain size were observed in XRD and decrease in particle size of the same with increase in band gap is deduced through UV–Vis and XRD studies. The FT-IR spectrum confirms the interaction of thiol group with CdS. Fluorescence lifetime of capped QDs was higher compared to uncapped CdS QDs. The surface passivation of thiol group on CdS is shown in photoluminescence studies.     

Ferromagnetism in Cu-doped ZnSe semiconducting quantum dots

The projection of integrating optical, magnetic and electronic functionalities into a single material have aggravated passionate attention in mounting wide band gap diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) in the midst of room temperature ferromagnetism. We report the evidence of ferromagnetism in Cu-doped ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) below room temperature, grown from a single source precursor by lyothermal method with the sizes of approximately 3.2–5.14 nm. QDs mainly exhibit paramagnetic behavior between 80 and 300 K, with a weak ferromagnetic/anti-ferromagnetic exchange at lower temperature as observed by superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer. From the Curie–Weiss behavior of the susceptibility, Curie temperature (T _c) of Cu-doped ZnSe sample has been evaluated. From EPR, we obtain the Lande-g factor in the Zeeman interaction term as 2.060. Photoluminescence and EPR measurements support and confirm the view that Cu²⁺ substitutes for Zn²⁺ in Cu-doped ZnSe quantum dots.     

Spectroscopic Identification of Interactions of Pb2+ with Bovine Serum Albumin

The effect of Pb²⁺ targeted to bovine serum albumin (BSA) in vitro was investigated by fluorescence, synchronous fluorescence, UV absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectrophotometry. The characteristic fluorescence of BSA was quenched, which indicated that Pb²⁺ changed the skeleton of BSA and caused the gradual exposure of aromatic amino acid residues (Trp, Tyr, Phe) in the internal hydrophobic region of BSA. When the concentration of Pb²⁺ was higher than 1 × 10⁻⁴ mol/L, the BSA was completely denatured. The excess lead ion interacted with the aromatic amino acid residues of BSA exposed to the solution, which decreased the fluorescence of BSA further. According to the experiment results, we found that a lead-BSA complex was formed following static quenching and the binding site was calculated approximately equal to 1. This work reflected the interaction mechanism of BSA and Pb²⁺ from the perspective of spectroscopy.