Biomimetic Synthesis of Ag2Se Quantum Dots with Enhanced Photothermal Properties and as “Gatekeepers” to Cap Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Chemo–Photothermal Therapy

Ag₂Se quantum dots (QDs) with near‐infrared (NIR) fluorescence have been widely utilized in NIR fluorescence imaging in vivo because of their narrow bulk band gap and excellent biocompatibility. However, most of synthesis methods for Ag₂Se QDs are expensive and the reactants are toxic. Herein, a new protein‐templated biomimetic synthesis approach is proposed for the preparation of Ag₂Se QDs by employing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a template and dispersant. The BSA‐templated Ag₂Se QDs (Ag₂Se@BSA QDs) showed NIR fluorescence with high fluorescence quantum yield (≈21.2 %), excellent biocompatibility and good dispersibility in different media. Moreover, the obtained Ag₂Se@BSA QDs exhibited remarkable photothermal conversion (≈27.8 %), which could be used in photothermal therapy. As a model application in biomedicine, the Ag₂Se@BSA QDs were used as “gatekeepers” to cap mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) by means of electrostatic interaction. By taking the advantages of NIR fluorescence and photothermal property of Ag₂Se@BSA QDs, the obtained MSN‐DOX‐Ag₂Se nanoparticles (MDA NPs) were employed as a nanoplatform for combined chemo‐photothermal therapy. Compared with free DOX and MDA NPs without NIR laser, the laser‐treated MDA NPs exhibited lower cell viability in vitro, implying that Ag₂Se@BSA QDs are highly promising photothermal agents and the MDA NPs are potential carriers for chemo–photothermal therapy.     

Characterization of CdHgTe/CdS QDs for near infrared fluorescence imaging of spinal column in a mouse model

Near infrared (NIR) CdHgTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) were successfully prepared by a green synthetic route. The characteristics such as morphology, size, spectra, stability and toxicity were investigated in detail. The fluorescence wavelength of CdHgTe/CdS QDs could be adjusted to the NIR range (812nm), which made the in vivo NIR imaging possible. The in vivo dynamic biodistribution of CdHgTe/CdS QDs in a mouse model was monitored by an NIR imaging system. Results indicated that CdHgTe/CdS QDs with a diameter of about 5.8nm targeted to spinal column effectively. Further imaging of the dissected spine disclosed that QDs targeted to vertebra rather than spinal cord. The high fluorescence intensity together with targeting effect makes CdHgTe/CdS QDs particular candidates for imaging purposes in experimental animal models of vertebral injury.     

In vivo NIR imaging with CdTe/CdSe quantum dots entrapped in PLGA nanospheres

Luminescent near-infrared (NIR) CdTe/CdSe QDs were synthesized and encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanospheres to prepare stable and biocompatible QDs-loaded nanospheres for in vivo imaging. QDs were encapsulated with PLGA nanospheres by a solid dispersion method and optimized to have high fluorescence intensity for in vivo imaging detection. The resultant QDs-loaded PLGA nanospheres were characterized by various analytical techniques such as UV-Vis measurement, dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Finally, we evaluated toxicity and body distribution of QDs loaded in PLGA nanospheres in vitro and in vivo, respectively. From the results, the QDs loaded in PLGA nanospheres were spherical and showed a diameter range of 135.0-162.3 nm in size. The QD nanospheres increased their stability against photooxidation and photobleaching, which have the high potential for applications in biomedical imaging. We have also attained non-invasive in vivo imaging with light photons, representing an intriguing avenue for obtaining biological information by the use of NIR light.     

Magic sized ZnS quantum dots as a highly sensitive and selective fluorescence sensor probe for Ag+ ions

A green and simple chemical synthesis of magic sized water soluble blue-emitting ZnS quantum dots (QDs) has been accomplished by reacting anhydrous Zn acetate, sodium sulfide and thiolactic acid (TLA) at room temperature in aqueous solution. Refluxing of this mixture in open air yielded ZnS clusters of about 3.5 nm in diameter showing very strong and narrow photoluminescence properties with long stability. Refluxing did not cause any noticeable size increment of the clusters. As a result, the QDs obtained after different refluxing conditions showed similar absorption and photoluminescence (PL) features. Use of TLA as a capping agent effectively yielded such stable and magic sized QDs. The as-synthesized and 0.5 h refluxed ZnS QDs were used as a fluorescence sensor for Ag(+) ions. It has been observed that after addition of Ag(+) ions of concentration 0.5-1 μM the strong fluorescence of ZnS QDs was almost quenched. The quenched fluorescence can be recovered by adding ethylenediamine to form a complex with Ag(+) ions. The other metal ions (K(+), Ca(2+), Au(3+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Mn(2+), Mg(2+), Co(2+)) showed little or no effect on the fluorescence of ZnS QDs when tested individually or as a mixture. In the presence of all these ions, Ag(+) responded well and therefore ZnS QDs reported in this work can be used as a Ag(+) ion fluorescence sensor.     

Recent advances in the use of near-infrared quantum dots as optical probes for bioanalytical,imaging and solar cell application

Near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) represent a powerful material and diagnostic tool owing to their long emission wavelength which extends into the near-infrared region where permeation depths are much larger and where the intrinsic absorbance and autofluorescence of tissue is much smaller compared to shortwave emitting QDs. We are reviewing here recent (2008–2013) methods for the preparation of NIR QDs, their (bio)chemical modifications, and their applications. The article is subdivided into the following sections: (a) Synthesis of NIR QDs; (b) modification of NIR QDs and probe preparation; (c) applications of NIR QDs (with subsections on fluorescence quenching and fluorescence enhancement-based bioanalytical detection, on fluorescence bioimaging, on uses in photovoltaic cells and solar cells, and on molecular detection based on electrogenerated chemiluminescence). We finally make conclusions and discuss current challenges, trends, and future applications. The review contains 119 references. Figure

This review systematically presents the development, preparation methods, modifications and bioapplications of Near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs). The review contains 126 references.     

Surface Plasmon Resonance‐Enhanced Visible‐NIR‐Driven Photocatalytic and Photothermal Catalytic Performance by Ag/Mesoporous Black TiO2 Nanotube Heterojunctions

Ag/mesoporous black TiO₂ nanotubes heterojunctions (Ag‐MBTHs) were fabricated through a surface hydrogenation, wet‐impregnation and photoreduction strategy. The as‐prepared Ag‐MBTHs possess a relatively high specific surface area of ≈85 m² g^?1 and an average pore size of ≈13.2 nm. The Ag‐MBTHs with a narrow band gap of ≈2.63 eV extend the photoresponse from UV to the visible‐light and near‐infrared (NIR) region. They exhibit excellent visible‐NIR‐driven photothermal catalytic and photocatalytic performance for complete conversion of nitro aromatic compounds (100 %) and mineralization of highly toxic phenol (100 %). The enhancement can be attributed to the mesoporous hollow structures increasing the light multi‐refraction, the Ti³⁺ in frameworks and the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of plasmonic Ag nanoparticles favoring light‐harvesting and spatial separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, which is confirmed by transient fluorescence. The fabrication of this SPR‐enhanced visible‐NIR‐driven Ag‐MBTHs catalyst may provide new insights for designing other high‐performance heterojunctions as photocatalytic and photothermal catalytic nanomaterials.     

Minimizing the hydrodynamic size of quantum dots with multifunctional multidentate polymer ligands

We report a new strategy to minimize the hydrodynamic size of quantum dots (QDs) and to overcome their colloidal stability and photobleaching problems based on the use of multifunctional and multidentate polymer ligands. A novel finding is that a balanced composition of thiol (-SH) and amine (-NH 2) coordinating groups grafted to a linear polymer chain leads to highly compact nanocrystals with exceptional colloidal stability, a strong resistance to photobleaching, and high fluorescence quantum yields. In contrast to the standing brushlike conformation of PEGylated dihydrolipoic acid molecules, mutlidentate polymer ligands can wrap around the QDs in a closed "loops-and-trains" conformation. This structure is highly stable thermodynamically and is responsible for the excellent colloidal and optical properties. We have optimized this process for the preparation of ultrastable CdTe nanocrystals and have found the strategy to be broadly applicable to a wide range of nanocrystalline materials and heterostructures. This work has led to a new generation of bright and stable QDs with small hydrodynamic diameters between 5.6 and 9.7 nm with tunable fluorescence emission from the visible (515 nm) to the near-infrared (720 nm). These QDs are well suited for molecular and cellular imaging applications in which the nanoparticle hydrodynamic size must be minimized.     

Bright and compact alloyed quantum dots with broadly tunable near-infrared absorption and fluorescence spectra through mercury cation exchange

We report a new strategy based on mercury cation exchange in nonpolar solvents to prepare bright and compact alloyed quantum dots (QDs) (Hg(x)Cd(1-x)E, where E = Te, Se, or S) with equalized particle size and broadly tunable absorption and fluorescence emission in the near-infrared. The main rationale is that cubic CdE and HgE have nearly identical lattice constants but very different band gap energies and electron/hole masses. Thus, replacement of Cd(2+) by Hg(2+) in CdTe nanocrystals does not change the particle size, but it greatly alters the band gap energy. After capping with a multilayer shell and solubilization with a multidentate ligand, this class of cation-exchanged QDs are compact (6.5 nm nanocrystal size and 10 nm hydrodynamic diameter) and very bright (60-80% quantum yield), with narrow and symmetric fluorescence spectra tunable across the wavelength range from 700 to 1150 nm.     

Semiconductor quantum dots and metal nanoparticles: syntheses,optical properties,and biological applications

We review the syntheses, optical properties, and biological applications of cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium selenide–zinc sulfide (CdSe–ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) and gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). Specifically, we selected the syntheses of QDs and Au and Ag NPs in aqueous and organic phases, size- and shape-dependent photoluminescence (PL) of QDs and plasmon of metal NPs, and their bioimaging applications. The PL properties of QDs are discussed with reference to their band gap structure and various electronic transitions, relations of PL and photoactivated PL with surface defects, and blinking of single QDs. Optical properties of Ag and Au NPs are discussed with reference to their size- and shape-dependent surface plasmon bands, electron dynamics and relaxation, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The bioimaging applications are discussed with reference to in vitro and in vivo imaging of live cells, and in vivo imaging of cancers, tumor vasculature, and lymph nodes. Other aspects of the review are in vivo deep tissue imaging, multiphoton excitation, NIR fluorescence and SERS imaging, and toxic effects of NPs and their clearance from the body. Figure Semiconductor quantum dots and metal nanoparticles have extensive applications, e.g., in vitro and in vivo bioimaging Tamitake Itoh and Abdulaziz Anas contributed equally to this article.     

Tumor Microenvironment‐Activated NIR‐II Nanotheranostic System for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Peritoneal Metastasis

Activatable theranostic systems show potential for improved tumor diagnosis and therapy owing to high detection specificities, effective ablation, and minimal side‐effects. Herein, a tumor microenvironment (TME)‐activated NIR‐II nanotheranostic system (FEAD1) for precise diagnosis and treatment of peritoneal metastases is presented. FEAD1 was fabricated by self‐assembling the peptide Fmoc‐His, mercaptopropionic‐functionalized Ag₂S quantum dots (MPA‐Ag₂S QDs), the chemodrug doxorubicin (DOX), and NIR absorber A1094 into nanoparticles. We show that in healthy tissue, FEAD1 exists in an NIR‐II fluorescence “off” state, because of Ag₂S QDs‐A1094 interactions, while DOX remains in stealth mode. Upon delivery of FEAD1 to the tumor, the acidic TME triggers its disassembly through breakage of the Fmoc‐His metal coordination and DOX hydrophobic interactions. Release of A1094 switches on Ag₂S fluorescence, illuminating the tumor, accompanied by burst release of DOX within the tumor tissue, thereby achieving precise tumor theranostics. This TME‐activated theranostic strategy holds great promise for future clinical applications.     

Aqueous synthesis of type-II core/shell CdTe/CdSe quantum dots for near-infrared fluorescent sensing of copper(II)

Type-II core/shell CdTe/CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous medium by employing thiol-capped CdTe QDs as core template and CdCl(2) and Na(2)SeSO(3) as shell precursors, respectively. Compared with the original CdTe cores, the core/shell CdTe/CdSe QDs showed an obvious red-shifted emission with the color-tune capability to the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength, because of the formation of an indirect excitation. The prepared QDs exhibited high stability and moderate fluorescence quantum yields (10-20%), and their core/shell heterostructure was characterized by UV-vis absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectra, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The fluorescence of the core/shell QDs could be markedly quenched by Cu(II), and approximate concentrations of other physiologically important cations, such as Zn(II), Ca(II), Na(I) and K(I) etc., had no effect on the fluorescence. Based on this, a simple and rapid method for Cu(II) determination was proposed using the NIR CdTe/CdSe QDs as fluorescent probes. Under optimal conditions, the response was linearly proportional to the concentration of Cu(II) between 0.05 to 50.0 x 10(-6) mol L(-1), the limit of detection was 2.0 x 10(-8) mol L(-1). The developed method was successfully applied to the detection of trace Cu(II) in real samples.     

以油胺-硒化氢复合物为前体的脂溶性量子点的制备

报道了一种以油胺-硒化氢复合物为前体的脂溶性CdSe量子点的制备方法. 将新制备的H2Se气体通入到油胺中, 得到油胺-硒化氢复合物, 以此复合物作为前体, 采用溶剂热合成法制备了CdSe量子点, 并采用荧光光谱、电镜以及X射线衍射对其进行了表征. 结果表明, CdSe量子点为立方晶型, 荧光半峰宽较窄(25~40 nm), 荧光量子产率可达23%, 并且荧光发射光谱从480到610 nm连续可调. 该方法无须使用三烷基膦, 是一种价廉环保的量子点制备方法.     

Visible light induced photoelectrochemical biosensing based on oxygen-sensitive quantum dots

A visible light induced photoelectrochemical biosensing platform based on oxygen-sensitive near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) was developed for detection of glucose. The NIR QDs were synthesized in an aqueous solution, and characterized with scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-prepared NIR QDs were employed to construct oxygen-sensitive photoelectrochemical biosensor on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrode. The oxygen dependency of the photocurrent was investigated at as-prepared electrode, which demonstrated the signal of photocurrent is suppressed with the decreasing of oxygen. Coupling with the consumption of oxygen during enzymatic reaction, a photoelectrochemical strategy was proposed for the detection of substrate. Using glucose oxidase (GOx) as a model enzyme, that is, GOx was covalently attached to the surface of CdTe QDs, the resulting biosensor showed the sensitive response to glucose. Under the irradiation of visible light of a wavelength at 505 nm, the proposed photoelectrochemical method could detect glucose ranging from 0.1 mM to 11 mM with a detection limit of 0.04 mM. The photoelectrochemical biosensor showed a good performance with high upper detection limit, acceptable stability and accuracy, providing an alternative method for monitoring biomolecules and extending the application of near-infrared QDs.     

Induction of pH sensitivity on the fluorescence lifetime of quantum dots by NIR fluorescent dyes

Modulation of the fluorescence lifetime (FLT) of CdTeSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) by near-IR (NIR) organic chromophores represents a new strategy for generating reproducible pH-sensing nanomaterials. The hybrid construct transfers the pH sensitivity of photolabile NIR cyanine dyes to highly emissive and long-lifetime pH-insensitive QDs, thereby inducing a reproducible FLT change from 29 ns at pH >7 to 12 ns at pH <5. This approach provides an unparalleled large dynamic FLT range for pH sensing at NIR wavelengths.     

Aqueous synthesis of CdSe and CdSe/CdS quantum dots with controllable introduction of Se and S sources

A new and convenient route is developed to synthesize CdSe and core-shell CdSe/CdS quantum dots(QDs) in aqueous solution.The gaseous precursors,H2Se and H2S,generated on-line by reducing SeO 3 2à with NaBH 4 and the reaction between Na 2 S and diluted H2SO 4,are used to form high-quality CdSe and CdSe/CdS QDs,respectively.The synthesized water-soluble CdSe and CdSe/CdS QDs possess high quantum yield(3% and 20%) and narrow full-width-at-half-maximum(43 nm and 38 nm).The synthesis process is easily reproducible with simple apparatus and low-toxic chemicals,and can be readily extended to the large-scale aqueous synthesis of QDs.     

A unique class of near-infrared functional fluorescent dyes with carboxylic-acid-modulated fluorescence ON/OFF switching: rational design, synthesis, optical properties, theoretical calculations, and applications for fluorescence imaging in living animals

Fluorescence imaging is one of the most powerful techniques for monitoring biomolecules in living systems. Fluorescent sensors with absorption and emission in the near-infrared (NIR) region are favorable for biological imaging applications in living animals, as NIR light leads to minimum photodamage, deep tissue penetration, and minimum background autofluorescence interference. Herein, we have introduced a new strategy to design NIR functional dyes with the carboxylic-acid-controlled fluorescence on-off switching mechanism by the spirocyclization. Based on the design strategy, we have developed a series of Changsha (CS1-6) NIR fluorophores, a unique new class of NIR functional fluorescent dyes, bearing excellent photophysical properties including large absorption extinction coefficients, high fluorescence quantum yields, high brightness, good photostability, and sufficient chemical stability. Significantly, the new CS1-6 NIR dyes are superior to the traditional rhodamine dyes with both absorption and emission in the NIR region while retaining the rhodamine-like fluorescence ON-OFF switching mechanism. In addition, we have performed quantum chemical calculations with the B3LYP exchange functional employing 6-31G* basis sets to shed light on the structure-optical properties of the new CS1-6 NIR dyes. Furthermore, using CS2 as a platform, we further constructed the novel NIR fluorescent TURN-ON sensor 7, which is capable of imaging endogenously produced HClO in the living animals, demonstrating the value of our new CS NIR functional fluorescent dyes. We expect that the design strategy may be extended for development of a wide variety of NIR functional dyes with a suitable fluorescence-controlled mechanism for many useful applications in biological studies.     

Study of fluorescence quenching and dialysis process of CdTe quantum dots, using ensemble techniques and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Luminescence properties of quantum dots (QDs) are closely related to their surface structure and chemical properties. In this work some ensemble techniques and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) were used to study the fluorescence quenching and dialysis process of CdTe QDs. It is found that when some heavy metal ions, such as silver ions (Ag+), quench QDs, the free Ag+ ions bind with bare Te atoms and form the AgTe structure on the surface. The FCS experimental results show that the quenching process is not the gradual reduction of fluorescence intensity of single QDs, but the decrease in the number of bright QDs with the addition of Ag+ ions. In other words, the bright QDs turn into dark directly in the quenching process. It is observed that some dark QDs converse into the bright QDs in the dialysis experiments and the dialysis process can improve the brightness per QDs. Furthermore, the results of FCS and fluorescence spectroscopy illustrate that the increase of the fluorescence quantum yield (QY) is mainly attributed to the removal of excess unreacted Cd-MPA complex and the possible chemical change of the QDs surface in the dialysis process. These new results can help us to further understand the complex surface structure of water-soluble QDs, improve their surface chemical features, and expand their applications in some fields.     

NIR‐II Fluorescent Self‐Assembled Peptide Nanochain for Ultrasensitive Detection of Peritoneal Metastasis

Fluorescence‐guided cytoreductive surgery is one of the most promising approaches for facile elimination of tumors in situ, thereby improving prognosis. Reported herein is a simple strategy to construct a novel chainlike NIR‐II nanoprobe (APP‐Ag₂S‐RGD) by self‐assembly of an amphiphilic peptide (APP) into a nanochain with subsequent chemical crosslinking of NIR‐II Ag₂S QDs and the tumor‐targeting RGD peptide. This probe exhibits higher capability for cancer cell detection compared with that of RGD‐functionalized Ag₂S QDs (Ag₂S‐RGD) at the same concentration. Upon intraperitoneal injection, superior tumor‐to‐normal tissue signal ratio is achieved and non‐vascularized tiny tumor metastatic foci as small as about 0.2 mm in diameter could be facilely eliminated under NIR‐II fluorescent imaging guidance. These results clearly indicate the potential of this probe for fluorescence‐guided tumor staging, preoperative diagnosis, and intraoperative navigation.     

Emerging applications of near-infrared fluorescent metal nanoclusters for biological imaging

Recent advances in the development of near-infrared fluorescent metal nanoclusters for bioimaging applications have been thoroughly overviewed.     

Peptide-mediated Aqueous Synthesis of NIR-II Emitting Ag2S Quantum Dots for Rapid Photocatalytic Bacteria Disinfection

Pathogenic microorganisms in the environment are a great threat to global human health. The development of disinfection method with rapid and effective antibacterial properties is urgently needed. In this study, a biomimetic silver binding peptide AgBP2 was introduced to develop a facile synthesis of biocompatible Ag₂S quantum dots (QDs). The AgBP2 capped Ag₂S QDs exhibited excellent fluorescent emission in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window, with physical stability and photostability in the aqueous phase. Under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation, AgBP2-Ag₂S QDs can serve not only as a photothermal agent to realize NIR photothermal conversion but also as a photocatalyst to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). The obtained AgBP2-Ag₂S QDs achieved a highly effective disinfection efficacy of 99.06 % against Escherichia coli within 25 min of NIR irradiation, which was ascribed to the synergistic effects of photogenerated ROS during photocatalysis and hyperthermia. Our work demonstrated a promising strategy for efficient bacterial disinfection.