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Silicon Quantum Dots and Their Impact on Different Human Cells
Author(s) -
Belinova Tereza,
Vrabcova Lucie,
Machova Iva,
Fucikova Anna,
Valenta Jan,
Sugimoto Hiroshi,
Fujii Minoru,
Hubalek Kalbacova Marie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.201700597
Subject(s) - quantum dot , cytotoxicity , nanotechnology , stromal cell , cell , silicon , biosensor , materials science , fluorescence , chemistry , biophysics , in vitro , optoelectronics , cancer research , biochemistry , biology , physics , optics
Silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) are interesting low‐dimensional nanostructures whose unique optical and electronic properties can be exploited for imaging, biosensing, or drug delivery. SiQDs with a diameter of around 4 nm co‐doped with boron and phosphorus and evincing fluorescence and dispersibility in aqueous solutions were studied with respect to their impact on different human cells. The level of SiQD cytotoxicity in different types of human cells − osteoblasts, monocytes, macrophages, and mesenchymal stromal cells – was determined. Exposing the cells to increasing concentrations of quantum dots under different conditions and the subsequent evaluation of their cytotoxicity provided an overview of cell‐specific reactions to identical doses. The results revealed the importance of cultivation conditions (e.g., the formation of a protein corona on nanoparticles originating from the media supplement) as well as the significant impact of cell type (the increased sensitivity of monocytes to quantum dots in comparison to other cell types).