Functional CdSe/CdS@SiO2 Nanoparticles for Bioimaging Applications Tangi Aubert, Daniel Wassmuth, Stefaan J. Soenen, Rik Van Deun, Kevin Braeckmans, Zeger Hens Ghent University, Belgium
Functional silica NPs for biotechnologies - Biocompatible - High colloidal stability - Versatile surface chemistry - … luminescent magnetic plasmonic Burns A.A., Wiesner U. et al., Nano. Lett. 2009, 9 (1), 442 Lu C.H. et al., Nano. Lett. 2007, 7 (1), 150 Sokolov K. et al., Cancer Res. 2003, 63, 1999
Semiconductor colloidal QDs - Sharp and tunable emission - High quantum yields - Large absorption cross section - …
Outline ● ‘Flash’ CdSe/CdS core-shell quantum dots - synthesis, properties and low blinking ● CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles - synthesis and photostability ● Potential for bioimaging applications - toxicity, cell uptake and labeling
‘Flash’ CdSe/CdS QDs synthesis ● SILAR CdSe/CdS synthesis (successive ion layer adsorption and reaction) → highly time consuming Li et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 12567 ● FLASH CdSe/CdS synthesis: adapted from synthesis of CdSe/CdS dot-in-rods Carbone et al., Nano Lett. 2007, 7 (10), 2942 T = 330°C CdO oleic acid TOPO N2 CdSe + TOP-S 3 min reaction !! M. Cirillo, T. Aubert, R. Gomes, R. Van Deun, P. Emplit, A. Biermann, H. Lange, C. Thomsen, E. Brainis, Z. Hens, Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 1154-1160.
‘Flash’ CdSe/CdS QDs synthesis Morphology, size control and optical properties sharp emission high quantum yield (>80%) Ø = 16 nm tunable CdS thickness → up to 20 monolayers of CdS shell in no more than 3 minutes M. Cirillo, T. Aubert, R. Gomes, R. Van Deun, P. Emplit, A. Biermann, H. Lange, C. Thomsen, E. Brainis, Z. Hens, Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 1154-1160.
‘Flash’ CdSe/CdS QDs synthesis Raman analysis → low blinking → interfacial alloying M. Cirillo, T. Aubert, R. Gomes, R. Van Deun, P. Emplit, A. Biermann, H. Lange, C. Thomsen, E. Brainis, Z. Hens, Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 1154-1160.
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles Synthesis by water-in-oil microemulsion inverted micelle amphiphilic ligand hydrolyzed TEOS hydrophobic NP
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles Morphology → high control on the thickness of the silica shell T. Aubert, S.J. Soenen, D. Wassmuth, M. Cirillo, R. Van Deun, K. Braeckmans, Z. Hens, submitted
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles Optical properties under continuous UV irradiation CdSe/CdS@SiO2 in water CdSe/CdS QDs in toluene → long term stability in water → improved photo-stability T. Aubert, S.J. Soenen, D. Wassmuth, M. Cirillo, R. Van Deun, K. Braeckmans, Z. Hens, submitted
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 for bioimaging Toxicity tests on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) 24 hrs exposition *: p < 0.05 **: p < 0.01 * ** QD first significant effect at 10 nM → low toxicity (first significant effect at [NPs] = 100 nM) T. Aubert, S.J. Soenen, D. Wassmuth, M. Cirillo, R. Van Deun, K. Braeckmans, Z. Hens, submitted
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 for bioimaging HUVECs cell labeling ([NPs] = 50 nM, 30 min) red channel (NPs) green channel (dye) merged (NPs + dye) 40 µm → rapid endosomal uptake of high levels of NPs T. Aubert, S.J. Soenen, D. Wassmuth, M. Cirillo, R. Van Deun, K. Braeckmans, Z. Hens, submitted
CdSe/CdS@SiO2 for bioimaging Long term cell visualization (HUVECS, [NPs] = 50 nM, 24 hrs) 0 cell division 3 cell divisions 7 cell divisions → nanoparticles visible in more than 50% of cells after 9 cell divisions T. Aubert, S.J. Soenen, D. Wassmuth, M. Cirillo, R. Van Deun, K. Braeckmans, Z. Hens, submitted
Conclusion tangi.aubert@ugent.be ● ‘Flash’ CdSe/CdS synthesis - fast and tunable ● CdSe/CdS@SiO2 nanoparticles - good morphology - high stability in water ● High potential for bioimaging - low toxicity - fast and high uptake - long term visualization
Thanks for your attention ! Acknowledgement Max Kade Foundation Thanks for your attention !