Open AccessCdTe quantum dots for an application in the life sciences
Author(s) -
Ung Thi Dieu Thuy,
Pham Song Toan,
Tran Thi Kim,
Đinh Duy Kháng,
Nguyen Quang Liem
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advances in natural sciences nanoscience and nanotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.476
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 2043-6262
DOI - 10.1088/2043-6262/1/4/045009
Subject(s) - quantum dot , rhodospirillum rubrum , cadmium telluride photovoltaics , fluorescence , luminescence , optoelectronics , quantum yield , materials science , chemistry , nanotechnology , physics , optics , biochemistry , enzyme
This report highlights the results of the preparation of semiconductor CdTe quantum dots (QDs) in the aqueous phase. The small size of a few nm and a very high luminescence quantum yield exceeding 60% of these materials make them promisingly applicable to bio-medicine labeling. Their strong, two-photon excitation luminescence is also a good characteristic for biolabeling without interference with the cell fluorescence. The primary results for the pH-sensitive CdTe QDs are presented in that fluorescence of CdTe QDs was used as a proton sensor to detect proton flux driven by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in chromatophores. In other words, these QDs could work as pH-sensitive detectors. Therefore, the system of CdTe QDs on chromatophores prepared from the cells of Rhodospirillum rubrum and the antibodies against the beta-subunit of F0F1–ATPase could be a sensitive detector for the avian influenza virus subtype A/H5N1.