The synthesis of water-soluble and low-cytotoxicity quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution has received much attention recently. A one-step and convenient method has been developed for synthesis of water-soluble glutathione (GSH)-capped and Zn(2+)-doped CdTe QDs via a refluxing route. Because of the addition of Zn ions and the epitaxial growth of a CdS layer, the prepared QDs exhibit superior properties, including strong fluorescence, minimal cytotoxicity, and enhanced biocompatibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Toxicol Pharmacol
May 2012
The toxicity of chlorobenzenes to Tetrahymena growth metabolism was studied by microcalorimetry. The growth constant (k), peak time (T) and generation times (T(G)) were calculated. IC(50) of chlorobenzenes was obtained through the kinetic parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
November 2011
Quantum dots (QDs) hold great potential for applications in nanomedicine, however, only a few studies investigate their toxic- and bio-effects. Using Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells as model, we found that CdTe QDs exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth by microcalorimetric technique and optical density (OD(600)).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Colloid Interface Sci
March 2011
A simple method was developed for preparing CdSe quantum dots (QDs) using a common protein (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) to sequester QD precursors (Cd(2+)) in situ. Fluorescence (FL) and absorption spectra showed that the chelating time between BSA and Cd(2+), the molar ratio of BSA/Cd(2+), temperature, and pH are the crucial factors for the quality of QDs. The average QD particle size was estimated to be about 5 nm, determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater-soluble, biological-compatible, and excellent fluorescent CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) with L-cysteine as capping agent were synthesized in aqueous medium. Fluorescence (FL) spectra, absorption spectra, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to investigate the quality of the products. The interactions between QDs and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by absorption and FL titration experiments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe toxicity of six organic aromatic chemicals to Tetrahymena growth metabolism was studied by microcalorimetry. The growth constant k, inhibitory ratio I, and half-inhibiting concentration IC(50) were calculated. The results suggested that the order of toxicity was aniline>nitrobenzene>chlorobenzene>toluene>benzene>phenol.
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