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Luminescent gelatin nanospheres by encapsulating CdSe quantum dots
Author(s) -
Chen Longyan,
Willoughby Adrienne,
Zhang Jin
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
luminescence
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.428
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1522-7243
pISSN - 1522-7235
DOI - 10.1002/bio.2505
Subject(s) - quantum dot , biocompatibility , transmission electron microscopy , fluorescence , gelatin , nanotechnology , luminescence , colloidal gold , nanoparticle , high resolution transmission electron microscopy , materials science , scanning electron microscope , chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , optics , physics , composite material
Quantum dots (QDs) have been encapsulated within gelatin nanoparticles (GNPs), which gives GNPs fluorescent properties and improves the biocompatibility of QDs. Hydrophilic CdSe QDs were produced through thermodecomposition following the ligand‐exchange method, and were then encapsulated in GNPs. The results of high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy show that CdSe QDs and QDs‐encapsulated GNPs (QDs‐GNPs) have average diameters of 5 ± 1 and 150 ± 10 nm, respectively. Results of both high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy indicate that CdSe QDs are successfully encapsulated within GNPs. The QDs‐GNPs have distinctive fluorescent properties with maximum emission at 654 nm, with a 24 nm red‐shift comapred with hydrophilic mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA)‐modified QDs. In addition, an in vitro cytotoxicity test shows that QDs‐GNPs do not have any toxic effect on cells. It is expected that QDs‐GNPs might be an excellent candidate as a contrast agent in bio‐imaging. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.