Synthesis and optimization of emission characteristics of water-dispersible ag-in-s quantum dots and their bactericidal activity.

Developing novel aqueous-soluble quantum dots (QDs) can create new opportunities for better biological utilization. In the present work, novel, high emissive and biocompatible N-acetyl-L-cysteine-capped Ag-In-S QDs (as an I-III-VI structure) were prepared in a facile and straightforward way. The dominance of the strong confinement regime was observed due to the very small size of nanoparticles, which was smaller than their excitonic Bohr radius.