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Qiao L, Fu Z, Li B, Liu Z, Cai L, Pan Y, Ran X, He Y, Wu W, Chi Z, Liu R, Guo L. Heteroatom Doping Promoted Ultrabright and Ultrastable Photoluminescence of Water-Soluble Au/Ag Nanoclusters for Visual and Efficient Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024. [PMID: 38946393 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c04303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Photoluminescence (PL) metal nanoclusters (NCs) have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent physicochemical properties, good biocompatibility, and broad application prospects. However, developing water-soluble PL metal NCs with a high quantum yield (QY) and high stability for visual drug delivery remains a great challenge. Herein, we have synthesized ultrabright l-Arg-ATT-Au/Ag NCs (Au/Ag NCs) with a PL QY as high as 73% and excellent photostability by heteroatom doping and surface rigidization in aqueous solution. The as-prepared Au/Ag NCs can maintain a high QY of over 61% in a wide pH range and various ionic environments as well as a respectable resistance to photobleaching. The results from structure characterization and steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopic analysis reveal that Ag doping into Au NCs not only effectively modifies the electronic structure and photostability but also significantly regulates the interfacial dynamics of the excited states and enhances the PL QY of Au/Ag NCs. Studies in vitro indicate Au/Ag NCs have a high loading capacity and pH-triggered release ability of doxorubicin (DOX) that can be visualized from the quenching and recovery of PL intensity and lifetime. Imaging-guided experiments in cancer cells show that DOX of Au/Ag NCs-DOX agents can be efficiently delivered and released in the nucleus with preferential accumulation in the nucleolus, facilitating deep insight into the drug action sites and pharmacological mechanisms. Moreover, the evaluation of anticancer activity in vivo reveals an outstanding suppression rate of 90.2% for mice tumors. These findings demonstrate Au/Ag NCs to be a superior platform for bioimaging and visual drug delivery in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Qiao
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Zhijie Fu
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Zhanpeng Liu
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Lin Cai
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yatao Pan
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Xia Ran
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yulu He
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Wenqiang Wu
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Zhen Chi
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Renming Liu
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Lijun Guo
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Physics and Electronics, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
- School of Physics and Electronics, International Joint Research Laboratory of New Energy Materials and Devices of Henan Province, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
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Chuang YT, Lin TY, Tan GH, Jan PE, Lin HC, Chen HM, Hsiao KY, Chen BH, Lu CH, Lee CH, Pao CW, Yang SD, Lu MY, Lin HW. Highly Efficient MAPbI 3-Based Quantum Dots Exhibiting Unusual Nonblinking Single Photon Emission at Room Temperature. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2308676. [PMID: 38072780 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202308676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Highly emissive semiconductor nanocrystals, or so-called quantum dots (QDs) possess a variety of applications from displays and biology labeling, to quantum communication and modern security. Though ensembles of QDs have already shown very high photoluminescent quantum yields (PLQYs) and have been widely utilized in current optoelectronic products, QDs that exhibit high absorption cross-section, high emission intensity, and, most important, nonblinking behavior at single-dot level have long been desired and not yet realized at room temperature. In this work, infrared-emissive MAPbI3-based halide perovskite QDs is demonstrated. These QDs not only show a ≈100% PLQY at the ensemble level but also, surprisingly, at the single-dot level, display an extra-large absorption cross-section up to 1.80 × 10-12 cm2 and non-blinking single photon emission with a high single photon purity of 95.3%, a unique property that is extremely rare among all types of quantum emitters operated at room temperature. An in-depth analysis indicates that neither trion formation nor band-edge carrier trapping is observed in MAPbI3 QDs, resulting in the suppression of intensity blinking and lifetime blinking. Fluence-dependent transient absorption measurements reveal that the coexistence of non-blinking behavior and high single photon purity in these perovskite QDs results from a significant repulsive exciton-exciton interaction, which suppresses the formation of biexciton, and thus greatly reduces photocharging. The robustness of these QDs is confirmed by their excellent stability under continuous 1 h electron irradiation in high-resolution transmission electron microscope inspection. It is believed that these results mark an important milestone in realizing nonblinking single photon emission in semiconductor QDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Tang Chuang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yu Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Guang-Hsun Tan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Pei-En Jan
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Cheng Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Ming Chen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Yuan Hsiao
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Bo-Han Chen
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Lu
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsuan Lee
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 106319, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Wei Pao
- Research Center for Applied Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Da Yang
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yen Lu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Wu Lin
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
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Zhu L, Tang Z, Zhang X, Zhu L, Meng T, Yu L, Xiao T, Lu S, Xiong X, Yang X. A sensitive "off-on" electrochemiluminescence DNA sensor based on signal cascade amplification circuit and distance-dependent energy transfer. Talanta 2024; 269:125464. [PMID: 38039672 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
A sensitive "off-on" electrochemiluminescence (ECL) DNA sensor was constructed based on Exo III-assisted cascade amplification system. In the cascade amplification circuit, target DNA and Exo III cutting substrate were designed into an inverted T-shaped binding mode to form a stable DNA junction, thus effectively triggering Exo III digestion cycle. During the biosensor assembly process, ferrocene (Fc) and distance-dependent ECL resonance energy transfer (ECL-RET) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effects were introduced to regulate the ECL of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs). Carboxylated ZnCdSe/ZnS QDs were used as ECL signal probes and K2S2O8 was coreactant, and the initial cathodic ECL signal of QDs was efficiently quenched through electron and energy transfer with Fc and ECL-RET with Au NPs, leaving the system in "off" state. After the products of cascade amplification were introduced into the electrode surface, the single-stranded DNA modified with Fc was displaced, and the distance between Au NPs and QDs became farther, resulting in a transition from ECL-RET to SPR, and then a significant ECL signal boost was achieved, turning the system into "on" state. The combination of efficient cascade amplification system and sensitive "off-on" ECL signal change mode enabled the biosensing platform to detect target DNA with high selectivity (able to distinguish single-base mutated DNA) and ultra-high sensitivity (limit of detection was 31.67 aM, S/N = 3), providing a new perspective for designing highly sensitive and programmable ECL biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China.
| | - Zeng Tang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Li Zhu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Tian Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China
| | - Linying Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China
| | - Ting Xiao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Shasha Lu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, China
| | - Xiaoli Xiong
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu, 610066, China
| | - Xiurong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130022, China.
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Wang Z, Tang J, Han J, Xia J, Ma T, Chen XW. Bright Nonblinking Photoluminescence with Blinking Lifetime from a Nanocavity-Coupled Quantum Dot. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:1761-1768. [PMID: 38261791 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c04661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are excellent luminescent nanomaterials for many optoelectronic applications. However, photoluminescence blinking has limited their practical use. Coupling QDs to plasmonic nanostructures shows potential in suppressing blinking. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear and debated, hampering the development of bright nonblinking dots. Here, by deterministically coupling a QD to a plasmonic nanocavity, we clarify the mechanism and demonstrate unprecedented single-QD brightness. In particular, we report for the first time that a blinking QD could obtain nonblinking photoluminescence with a blinking lifetime through coupling to the nanocavity. We show that the plasmon-enhanced radiative decay outcompetes the nonradiative Auger process, enabling similar quantum yields for charged and neutral excitons in the same dot. Meanwhile, we demonstrate a record photon detection rate of 17 MHz from a colloidal QD, indicating an experimental photon generation rate of more than 500 MHz. These findings pave the way for ultrabright nonblinking QDs, benefiting diverse QD-based applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyuan Wang
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Tang
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
- Wuhan Institute of Quantum Technology, Wuhan 430206, P. R. China
| | - Jiahao Han
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
| | - Juan Xia
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
| | - Tianzi Ma
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
| | - Xue-Wen Chen
- School of Physics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Institute for Quantum Science and Engineering and Hubei Key Laboratory of Gravitation and Quantum Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, P. R. China
- Wuhan Institute of Quantum Technology, Wuhan 430206, P. R. China
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Lan X, Shi X, Zhang L, Guo Q, Zou Z, Zhu G, Li X, Du W, Wang T. Highly polarized light emission from hybrid of quantum dots and plasmons in the intermediate coupling regime. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:3095-3098. [PMID: 37262289 DOI: 10.1364/ol.489777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Colloidal semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), with a size tunable bandgap and remarkably high quantum efficiency, have been recognized as ideal light sources in quantum information and light emitting devices. For light sources, besides the emission intensity and spectral profile, the degree of polarization (DoP) is an essential parameter. Here, by embedding a monolayer of QDs inside the nanogap between a bottom Au mirror and a top Ag nanowire, we have demonstrated highly polarized light emission from the QDs with an average DoP of 0.89. In addition to the anisotropic photoluminescence (PL) intensity, the PL spectra are distinct at different polarizations, with an asymmetric spectral shape or even two-peak features. Such an anisotropic emission behavior arises from the coupling between the QDs and the largely confined and polarization-dependent gap-plasmons in the Au/QD/Ag nanocavities in the intermediate coupling regime. Our results demonstrate the possibility of achieving highly polarized light sources by coupling spherical QDs to single anisotropic plasmonic nanocavities, to provide new opportunities in the future design of polarized QD-based display devices.
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