CdTe and CdSe quantum dots cytotoxicity: a comparative study on microorganisms

Chemically synthesized CdSe quantum dots induce apoptosis in AGS gastric cancer cells via ROS generation

CdSe quantum dots (QDs) with size in the range of 3.5-5.8 nm and a zinc blende (ZB) crystal structure were synthesized by the wet chemical method. The morphology of the synthesized QDs was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The structural and optical properties were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), absorption spectroscopy (Abs) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The anti-cancer activity of CdSe QDs was investigated on AGS gastric cancer cells through cell viability screening (MTT assay), cell cycle and apoptosis analysis using flow cytometry. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was analyzed using the cell fluorescence staining method with H2DCFDA. Three QD series of CdSe1 (3.5 nm), CdSe2 (4.7 nm) and CdSe3 (5.8 nm) have been selected to study their effects on the extermination of stomach cancer cells. The CdSe QDs all exhibited the potential to induce toxicity to cells at concentrations ranging from 5 to 20 μg mL-1. CdSe2 demonstrated a significant impact on cell proliferation compared to the CdSe1 and CdSe3 forms (p < 0.01). CdSe QDs caused cell cycle arrest, leading to the accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase, while also increasing the rate of apoptosis compared to the control (p < 0.01). More importantly, it has been demonstrated that CdSe QDs promote excessive production of ROS in AGS cells, which is believed to be the cause of apoptosis and the reduction of cell proliferation. These data suggest that CdSe QDs are a good candidate for combating gastric cancer cells.

Recent advances in synergistic use of GQD-based hydrogels for bioimaging and drug delivery in cancer treatment

Graphene quantum dot (GQD) integration into hydrogel matrices has become a viable approach for improving drug delivery and bioimaging in cancer treatment in recent years. Due to their distinct physicochemical characteristics, graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have attracted interest as adaptable nanomaterials for use in biomedicine. When incorporated into hydrogel frameworks, these nanomaterials exhibit enhanced stability, biocompatibility, and responsiveness to external stimuli. The synergistic pairing of hydrogels with GQDs has created new opportunities to tackle the problems related to drug delivery and bioimaging in cancer treatment. Bioimaging plays a pivotal role in the early detection and monitoring of cancer. GQD-based hydrogels, with their excellent photoluminescence properties, offer a superior platform for high-resolution imaging. The tunable fluorescence characteristics of GQDs enable real-time visualization of biological processes, facilitating the precise diagnosis and monitoring of cancer progression. Moreover, the drug delivery landscape has been significantly transformed by GQD-based hydrogels. Because hydrogels are porous, therapeutic compounds may be placed into them and released in a controlled environment. The large surface area and distinct interactions of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) with medicinal molecules boost loading capacity and release dynamics, ultimately improving therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, GQD-based hydrogels' stimulus-responsiveness allows for on-demand medication release, which minimizes adverse effects and improves therapeutic outcomes. The ability of GQD-based hydrogels to specifically target certain cancer cells makes them notable. Functionalizing GQDs with targeting ligands minimizes off-target effects and delivers therapeutic payloads to cancer cells selectively. Combined with imaging capabilities, this tailored drug delivery creates a theranostic platform for customized cancer treatment. In this study, the most recent advancements in the synergistic use of GQD-based hydrogels are reviewed, with particular attention to the potential revolution these materials might bring to the area of cancer theranostics.

Current Trends in Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemiluminescence Aptasensors for the Determination of Antibiotic Residues in Foodstuffs: A Comprehensive Review

Veterinary pharmaceuticals have been recently recognized as newly emerging environmental contaminants. Indeed, because of their uncontrolled or overused disposal, we are now facing undesirable amounts of these constituents in foodstuff and its related human health concerns. In this context, developing a well-organized environmental and foodstuff screening toward antibiotic levels is of paramount importance to ensure the safety of food products as well as human health. In this case, with the development and progress of electric/photo detecting, nanomaterials, and nucleic acid aptamer technology, their incorporation-driven evolving electrochemiluminescence aptasensing strategy has presented the hopeful potentials in identifying the residual amounts of different antibiotics toward sensitivity, economy, and practicality. In this context, we reviewed the up-to-date development of ECL aptasensors with aptamers as recognition elements and nanomaterials as the active elements for quantitative sensing the residual antibiotics in foodstuff and agriculture-related matrices, dissected the unavoidable challenges, and debated the upcoming prospects.

CdTe-QDs Affect Reproductive Development of Plants through Oxidative Stress

With the continuous development of industry, an increasing number of nanomaterials are widely used. CdTe-QDs is a nanomaterial with good optical properties, but its release into the natural environment may pose a potential threat. The toxicity of nanoparticles in plants is beginning to be questioned, and the effect on phytotoxicity is unclear. In this study, we simulated air pollution and soil pollution (CdTe-QDs concentrations of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mmol/L) by spraying and watering the seedlings, respectively. We determined the transport pathways of CdTe-QDs in Arabidopsis thaliana and their effects on plant reproductive growth. Spraying CdTe-QDs concentration >0.4 mmol/L significantly inhibited the formation of fruit and decreased the number of seeds. Observation with a laser confocal scanning microscope revealed that CdTe-QDs were mainly transported in plants through the vascular bundle, and spraying increased their accumulation in the anthers and ovaries. The expression level of genes associated with Cd stress was analyzed through RT-qPCR. CdTe-QDs significantly increased the expression levels of 10 oxidative stress-related genes and significantly decreased the expression levels of four cell-proliferation-related genes. Our results reveal for the first time the transport of CdTe-QDs in Arabidopsis flowers and demonstrate that QDs can cause abnormal pollen morphology, form defects of pollen vitality, and inhibit pollen tube growth in Arabidopsis through oxidative damage. These phenomena ultimately lead to the inability of Arabidopsis to complete the normal fertilization process and affect the reproductive growth of the plant.

Synthesis, properties and catalysis of quantum dots in C–C and C-heteroatom bond formations

Luminescent quantum dots (QDs) represent a new form of carbon nanomaterials which have gained widespread attention in recent years, especially in the area of chemical sensing, bioimaging, nanomedicine, solar cells, light-emitting diode (LED), and electrocatalysis. Their extremely small size renders some unusual properties such as quantum confinement effects, good surface binding properties, high surface‐to‐volume ratios, broad and intense absorption spectra in the visible region, optical and electronic properties different from those of bulk materials. Apart from, during the past few years, QDs offer new and versatile ways to serve as photocatalysts in organic synthesis. Quantum dots (QD) have band gaps that could be nicely controlled by a number of factors in a complicated way, mentioned in the article. Processing, structure, properties and applications are also reviewed for semiconducting quantum dots. Overall, this review aims to summarize the recent innovative applications of QD or its modified nanohybrid as efficient, robust, photoassisted redox catalysts in C–C and C-heteroatom bond forming reactions. The recent structural modifications of QD or its core structure in the development of new synthetic methodologies are also highlighted. Following a primer on the structure, properties, and bio-functionalization of QDs, herein selected examples of QD as a recoverable sustainable nanocatalyst in various green media are embodied for future reference.

Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Biosensing of Immunoregulatory Cytokines

Cytokines are a large group of small proteins secreted by immune and non-immune cells in response to external stimuli. Much attention has been given to the application of cytokines' detection in early disease diagnosis/monitoring and therapeutic response assessment. To date, a wide range of assays are available for cytokines detection. However, in specific applications, multiplexed or continuous measurements of cytokines with wearable biosensing devices are highly desirable. For such efforts, various nanomaterials have been extensively investigated due to their extraordinary properties, such as high surface area and controllable particle size and shape, which leads to their tunable optical emission, electrical, and magnetic properties. Different types of nanomaterials such as noble metal, metal oxide, and carbon nanoparticles have been explored for various biosensing applications. Advances in nanomaterial synthesis and device development have led to significant progress in pushing the limit of cytokine detection. This article reviews currently used methods for cytokines detection and new nanotechnology-based biosensors for ultrasensitive cytokine detection.

Photoactivated Indium Phosphide Quantum Dots Treat Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial Abscesses In Vivo

The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial strains is causing illness and death in an unprecedented number of people around the globe. Currently implemented small-molecule antibiotics are both increasingly less efficacious and perpetuating the evolution of resistance. Here, we propose a new treatment for drug-resistant bacterial infection in the form of indium phosphide quantum dots (InP QDs), semiconductor nanoparticles that are activated by light to produce superoxide. We show that the superoxide generated by InP QDs is able to effectively kill drug-resistant bacteria in vivo to reduce subcutaneous abscess infection in mice without being toxic to the animal. Our InP QDs are activated by near-infrared wavelengths with high transmission through skin and tissues and are composed of biocompatible materials. Body weight and organ tissue histology show that the QDs are nontoxic at a macroscale. Inflammation and oxidative stress markers in serum demonstrate that the InP QD treatment did not result in measurable effects on mouse health at concentrations that reduce drug-resistant bacterial viability in subcutaneous abscesses. The InP QD treatment decreased bacterial viability by over 3 orders of magnitude in subcutaneous abscesses formed in mice. These InP QDs thus provide a promising alternative to traditional small-molecule antibiotics, with the potential to be applied to a wide variety of infection types, including wound, respiratory, and urinary tract infections.

Light-activated quantum dot potentiation of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant bacterial biofilms

CdTe-2.4 eV quantum dots (QDs) show excellent efficacy due to their tunability and photo-potentiation for sterilizing drug-resistant planktonic cultures without harming mammalian cells but this QD fabrication has not been tested against biofilms. While the QD attack mechanism-production of superoxide radicals-is known to stimulate biofilm formation, here we demonstrate that CdTe-2.4 eV QD-antibiotic combination therapy can nearly eradicate Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. CdTe-2.4 eV QD versatility, safety, and ability to potentiate antibiotics makes them a potential treatment strategy for biofilm-associated infections.

Fluorometric detection of bisphenol A using β-cyclodextrin-functionalized ZnO QDs

The estrogenic property of bisphenol A (BPA) leads to potential adverse health and ecological effects. A simple, selective, and cost-effective sensor capable of detecting BPA would have a noteworthy relevance for the environmental system. The present work illustrates the synthesis and characterization of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots (QDs) for the selective detection of BPA. BPA has a fluorescence quenching effect on functionalized ZnO QDs, and the decrease in fluorescence intensity is associated with the BPA concentration between 2 and 10 μM. Under the optimum reaction condition, a good linear correlation was obtained between relative fluorescence-quenching intensity of β-cyclodextrin-functionalized ZnO QDs and BPA concentration (R² = 0.9891). The lower detection limit of functionalized QDs for BPA was estimated to be 0.19 μM, which is lower than the toxic limits in aquatic biota. The fluorescence-based detection of BPA may be ascribed to the electron transfer mechanism, which is elucidated with scientific details from the literature.

Can Carbon Quantum Dots (CQDs) or Boron Compounds be an Ultimate Solution for COVID-19 Therapy?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious and highly transmissible disease that is affected by SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and for which there are presently no approved treatments. COVID-19 is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. It is also a member of the coronaviruse family and known to cause similar illnesses in humans. The last outbreak has been identified as a Pandemic because of COVID-19 infections in humans. This review has been prepared to give some information to readers or scientists about some new generation of boron-doped or boron attached composite quantum dots during the design phase of the drug or drug delivery systems to be developed to combat COVID-19 and to help in the design of new drugs and systems by opening some new horizons. All scientists and researchers must quickly share their ideas and experiences in the fight against COVID-19 to find a better therapy or strategy for humans, and thus we can be successful. In this sense, this review offers readers some new ideas and rational perspectives. In conclusion, boron-containing composite carbon quantum dots appear to be the most suitable delivery system for treating COVID-19 infections especially when they are delivered through the lung.

Cytotoxicity and Bioimaging Study for NHDF and HeLa Cell Lines by Using Graphene Quantum Pins

Herein, we report the synthesis of an interesting graphene quantum material called "graphene quantum pins (GQPs)". Morphological analysis revealed the interesting pin shape (width: ~10 nm, length: 50-100 nm) and spectral analysis elucidated the surface functional groups, structural features, energy levels, and photoluminescence properties (blue emission under 365 nm). The difference between the GQPs and graphene quantum dos (GQDs) isolated from the same reaction mixture as regards to their morphological, structural, and photoluminescence properties are also discussed along with the suggestion of a growth mechanism. Cytotoxicity and cellular responses including changes in biophysical and biomechanical properties were evaluated for possible biomedical applications of GQPs. The studies demonstrated the biocompatibility of GQPs even at a high concentration of 512 μg/mL. Our results suggest GQPs can be used as a potential bio-imaging agent with desired photoluminescence property and low cytotoxicity.

Toxicity Evaluation of Quantum Dots (ZnS and CdS) Singly and Combined in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The exponential growth of nanotechnology has led to the production of large quantities of nanomaterials for numerous industrial, technological, agricultural, environmental, food and many other applications. However, this huge production has raised growing concerns about the adverse effects that the release of these nanomaterials may have on the environment and on living organisms. Regarding the effects of QDs on aquatic organisms, existing data is scarce and often contradictory. Thus, more information is needed to understand the mechanisms associated with the potential toxicity of these nanomaterials in the aquatic environment. The toxicity of QDs (ZnS and CdS) was evaluated in the freshwater fish Danio rerio. The fishes were exposed for seven days to different concentrations of QDs (10, 100 and 1000 µg/L) individually and combined. Oxidative stress enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase), lipid peroxidation, HSP70 and total ubiquitin were assessed. In general, results suggest low to moderate toxicity as shown by the increase in catalase activity and lipid peroxidation levels. The QDs (ZnS and CdS) appear to cause more adverse effects singly than when tested combined. However, LPO results suggest that exposure to CdS singly caused more oxidative stress in zebrafish than ZnS or when the two QDs were tested combined. Levels of Zn and Cd measured in fish tissues indicate that both elements were bioaccumulated by fish and the concentrations increased in tissues according to the concentrations tested. The increase in HSP70 measured in fish exposed to 100 µg ZnS-QDs/L may be associated with high levels of Zn determined in fish tissues. No significant changes were detected for total ubiquitin. More experiments should be performed to fully understand the effects of QDs exposure to aquatic biota.

Genetic Circuits To Detect Nanomaterial Triggered Toxicity through Engineered Heat Shock Response Mechanism

Biocompatibility assessment of nanomaterials has been of great interest due to their potential toxicity. However, conventional biocompatibility tests fall short of providing a fast toxicity report. We developed a whole cell based biosensor to track biocompatibility of nanomaterials with the aim of providing fast feedback to engineer them with lower toxicity levels. We engineered promoters of four heat shock response (HSR) proteins utilizing synthetic biology approaches. As an initial design, a reporter coding gene was cloned downstream of the selected promoter regions. Initial results indicated that native heat shock protein (HSP) promoter regions were not very promising to generate signals with low background signals. Introducing riboregulators to native promoters eliminated unwanted background signals almost entirely. Yet, this approach also led to a decrease in expected sensor signal upon stress treatment. Thus, a repression based genetic circuit, inspired by the HSR mechanism of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, was constructed. These genetic circuits could report the toxicity of quantum dot nanoparticles in 1 h. Our designed nanoparticle toxicity sensors can provide quick reports, which can lower the demand for additional experiments with more complex organisms.

Designing Superoxide-Generating Quantum Dots for Selective Light-Activated Nanotherapy

The rapid emergence of superbugs, or multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms, has prompted a search for novel antibiotics, beyond traditional small-molecule therapies. Nanotherapeutics are being investigated as alternatives, and recently superoxide-generating quantum dots (QDs) have been shown as important candidates for selective light-activated therapy, while also potentiating existing antibiotics against MDR superbugs. Their therapeutic action is selective, can be tailored by simply changing their quantum-confined conduction-valence band (CB-VB) positions and alignment with different redox half-reactions-and hence their ability to generate specific radical species in biological media. Here, we show the design of superoxide-generating QDs using optimal QD material and size well-matched to superoxide redox potential, charged ligands to modulate their uptake in cells and selective redox interventions, and core/shell structures to improve their stability for therapeutic action. We show that cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs with conduction band (CB) position at -0.5 V with respect to Normal Hydrogen Electron (NHE) and visible 2.4 eV bandgap generate a large flux of selective superoxide radicals, thereby demonstrating the effective light-activated therapy. Although the positively charged QDs demonstrate large cellular uptake, they bind indiscriminately to cell surfaces and cause non-selective cell death, while negatively charged and zwitterionic QD ligands reduce the uptake and allow selective therapeutic action via interaction with redox species. The stability of designed QDs in biologically-relevant media increases with the formation of core-shell QD structures, but an appropriate design of core-shell structures is needed to minimize any reduction in charge injection efficiency to adsorbed oxygen molecules (to form superoxide) and maintain similar quantitative generation of tailored redox species, as measured using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Using these findings, we demonstrate the rational design of QDs as selective therapeutic to kill more than 99% of a priority class I pathogen, thus providing an effective therapy against MDR superbugs.

Semiconductorversusgraphene quantum dots as fluorescent probes for cancer diagnosis and therapy applications

This review provides a comparison of optical, chemical and biocompatibility properties of graphene and semiconductor quantum dots as fluorescent probes.

Comparative investigation of toxicity and bioaccumulation of Cd-based quantum dots and Cd salt in freshwater plant Lemna minor L

The purpose of this study was to determine the toxicity of two different sources of cadmium, i.e. CdCl₂ and Cd-based Quantum Dots (QDs), for freshwater model plant Lemna minor L. Cadmium telluride QDs were capped with two coating ligands: glutathione (GSH) or 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA). Growth rate inhibition and final biomass inhibition of L. minor after 168-h exposure were monitored as toxicity endpoints. Dose-response curves for Cd toxicity and EC50_168h values were statistically evaluated for all sources of Cd to uncover possible differences among the toxicities of tested compounds. Total Cd content and its bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) in L. minor after the exposure period were also determined to distinguish Cd bioaccumulation patterns with respect to different test compounds. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) with lateral resolution of 200µm was employed in order to obtain two-dimensional maps of Cd spatial distribution in L. minor fronds. Our results show that GSH- and MPA-capped Cd-based QDs have similar toxicity for L. minor, but are significantly less toxic than CdCl₂. However, both sources of Cd lead to similar patterns of Cd bioaccumulation and distribution in L. minor fronds. Our results are in line with previous reports that the main mediators of Cd toxicity and bioaccumulation in aquatic plants are Cd²⁺ ions dissolved from Cd-based QDs.

Effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on UASB biomass activity and dewatered sludge

The accumulation of the nanowastes in the wastewater treatment plants has raised several concerns; therefore, it is an utmost priority to study the nanoparticle (NP) toxicity in such systems. In this work, the effect of TiO₂ NPs on up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) microflora and their photocatalytic effect on dewatered sludge were studied. We observed 99.98% removal of TiO₂ NPs by sludge biomass within 24 h, though negligible toxicity was found up to 100 mg/L TiO₂ concentration on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), volatile fatty acid and biogas generation. The low toxicity corresponds to the agglomeration of TiO₂ NPs in UASB sludge. Alterations in dewatered sludge biochemical composition and increase in cell damage were observed upon exposure to sunlight as evidenced by FTIR and fluorescent microscopy, respectively. Results suggest the negligible toxicity of TiO₂ NPs on UASB biomass activity; however, once exposed to open environment and sunlight, they may exert detrimental effects.

Strongly tricolor-emitting carbon dots synthesized by a combined aging–annealing route and their bio-application

A novel way has been established to make the FCDs with a very high QY, high stability, low cell cytotoxicity, and outstanding performance as a fluorescence probe.

Application of semiconductor quantum dots in bioimaging and biosensing

In this review we present new concepts and recent progress in the application of semiconductor quantum dots (QD) as labels in two important areas of biology, bioimaging and biosensing.

Single molecule optical measurements of orientation and rotations of biological macromolecules

Subdomains of macromolecules often undergo large orientation changes during their catalytic cycles that are essential for their activity. Tracking these rearrangements in real time opens a powerful window into the link between protein structure and functional output. Site-specific labeling of individual molecules with polarized optical probes and measurement of their spatial orientation can give insight into the crucial conformational changes, dynamics, and fluctuations of macromolecules. Here we describe the range of single molecule optical technologies that can extract orientation information from these probes, review the relevant types of probes and labeling techniques, and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies for addressing specific inquiries.

Surface-state dependent optical properties of OH-, F-, and H-terminated 4H-SiC quantum dots

Variation in the energy gap of 4H-SiC quantum dots illustrating the combined effect of quantum confinement and surface states, arising from the termination groups and reducing quantum dot diameter.

Nanomedicines against Chagas disease: an update on therapeutics, prophylaxis and diagnosis

Chagas disease is a neglected parasitic infection caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. After a mostly clinically silent acute phase, the disease becomes a lifelong chronic condition that can lead to chronic heart failure and thromboembolic phenomena followed by sudden death. Antichagasic treatment is only effective in the acute phase but fails to eradicate the intracellular form of parasites and causes severe toxicity in adults. Although conventional oral benznidazol is not a safe and efficient drug to cure chronic adult patients, current preclinical data is insufficient to envisage if conventional antichagasic treatment could be realistically improved by a nanomedical approach. This review will discuss how nanomedicines could help to improve the performance of therapeutics, vaccines and diagnosis of Chagas disease.

Dual-function fluorescent probe for cancer imaging and therapy

To date, several fluorescent probes modified by a single targeting agent have been explored. However, studies on the preparation of dual-function quantum dot (QD) fluorescent probes with dual-targeting action and a therapeutic effect are rare. Here, a dual-targeting CdTe/CdS QD fluorescent probe with a bovine serum albumin-glycyrrhetinic acid conjugate and arginine-glycine-aspartic acid was successfully prepared that could induce the apoptosis of liver cancer cells and showed enhanced targeting in in vitro cell imaging. Therefore, the as-prepared fluorescent probe in this work is an efficient diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection of liver cancer and breast cancer cells.

Necrotic cell death induced by the protein-mediated intercellular uptake of CdTe quantum dots

The toxicity of CdTe QDs with nearly identical maximum emission wavelength but modified with four different ligands (MPA, NAC, GSH and dBSA) to HEK293 and HeLa cells were investigated using flow cytometry, spectroscopic and microscopic methods. The results showed that the cytotoxicity of QDs increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. No appreciable fraction of cells with sub-G1 DNA content, the loss of membrane integrity, and the swelling of nuclei clearly indicated that CdTe QDs could lead to necrotic cell death in HEK293 cells. JC-1 staining and TEM images confirmed that QDs induced MPT, which resulted in mitochondrial swelling, collapse of the membrane potential. MPT is an important step in QDs-induced necrosis. Moreover, QDs induced MPT through the elevation of ROS. The fluorimetric assay and theoretical analysis demonstrated ROS production has been associated with the internalization of QDs with cells. Due to large surface/volume ratios of QDs, when QDs added in the culture medium, serum proteins in the culture medium will be adsorbed on the surface of QDs. This adsorption of serum protein will change the surface properties and size, and then mediate the cellular uptake of QDs via the clathrin-mediated endocytic pathway. After entering into cells, the translocation of QDs in cells is usually via endosomal or lysosomal vesicles. The rapid degradation of QDs in lysosome and the lysosomal destabilization induce cell necrosis. This study provides a basis for understanding the cytotoxicity mechanism of CdTe QDs, and valuable information for safe use of QDs in the future.

Microbial Uptake, Toxicity, and Fate of Biofabricated ZnS:Mn Nanocrystals

Despite their importance in nano-environmental health and safety, interactions between engineered nanomaterials and microbial life remain poorly characterized. Here, we used the model organism E. coli to study the penetration requirements, subcellular localization, induction of stress responses, and long-term fate of luminescent Mn-doped ZnS nanocrystals fabricated under "green" processing conditions with a minimized ZnS-binding protein. We find that such protein-coated quantum dots (QDs) are unable to penetrate the envelope of unmodified E. coli but readily translocate to the cytoplasm of cells that have been made competent by chemical treatment. The process is dose-dependent and reminiscent of bacterial transformation. Cells that have internalized up to 0.5 μg/mL of nanocrystals do not experience a significant activation of the unfolded protein or SOS responses but undergo oxidative stress when exposed to high QD doses (2.5 μg/mL). Finally, although they are stable in quiescent cells over temperatures ranging from 4 to 42°C, internalized QDs are rapidly diluted by cell division in a process that does not involve TolC-dependent efflux. Taken together, our results suggest that biomimetic QDs based on low toxicity inorganic cores capped by a protein shell are unlikely to cause significant damage to the microbial ecosystem.

Biosynthesis of luminescent CdS quantum dots using plant hairy root culture

CdS nanoparticles have a great potential for application in chemical research, bioscience and medicine. The aim of this study was to develop an efficient and environmentally-friendly method of plant-based biosynthesis of CdS quantum dots using hairy root culture of Linaria maroccana L. By incubating Linaria root extract with inorganic cadmium sulfate and sodium sulfide we synthesized stable luminescent CdS nanocrystals with absorption peaks for UV-visible spectrometry at 362 nm, 398 nm and 464 nm, and luminescent peaks at 425, 462, 500 nm. Transmission electron microscopy of produced quantum dots revealed their spherical shape with a size predominantly from 5 to 7 nm. Electron diffraction pattern confirmed the wurtzite crystalline structure of synthesized cadmium sulfide quantum dots. These results describe the first successful attempt of quantum dots synthesis using plant extract.

PACS

81.07.Ta; 81.16.-c; 81.16.Rf.

Evaluation of exposure concentrations used in assessing manufactured nanomaterial environmental hazards: are they relevant?

Manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) are increasingly produced and used in consumer goods, yet our knowledge regarding their environmental risks is limited. Environmental risks are assessed by characterizing exposure levels and biological receptor effects. As MNMs have rarely been quantified in environmental samples, our understanding of exposure level is limited. Absent direct measurements, environmental MNM concentrations are estimated from exposure modeling. Hazard, the potential for effects on biological receptors, is measured in the laboratory using a range of administered MNM concentrations. Yet concerns have been raised regarding the "relevancy" of hazard assessments, particularly when the administered MNM concentrations exceed those predicted to occur in the environment. What MNM concentrations are administered in hazard assessments and which are "environmentally relevant"? This review regards MNM concentrations in hazard assessments, from over 600 peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2013. Some administered MNM concentrations overlap with, but many diverge from, predicted environmental concentrations. Other uncertainties influence the environmental relevance of current hazard assessments and exposure models, including test conditions, bioavailable concentrations, mode of action, MNM production volumes, and model validation. Therefore, it may be premature for MNM risk research to sanction information on the basis of concentration "environmental relevance".

Cellular distribution and cytotoxicity of graphene quantum dots with different functional groups

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have been developed as promising optical probes for bioimaging due to their excellent photoluminescent properties. Additionally, the fluorescence spectrum and quantum yield of GQDs are highly dependent on the surface functional groups on the carbon sheets. However, the distribution and cytotoxicity of GQDs functionalized with different chemical groups have not been specifically investigated. Herein, the cytotoxicity of three kinds of GQDs with different modified groups (NH2, COOH, and CO-N (CH3)2, respectively) in human A549 lung carcinoma cells and human neural glioma C6 cells was investigated using thiazoyl blue colorimetric (MTT) assay and trypan blue assay. The cellular apoptosis or necrosis was then evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. It was demonstrated that the three modified GQDs showed good biocompatibility even when the concentration reached 200 μg/mL. The Raman spectra of cells treated with GQDs with different functional groups also showed no distinct changes, affording molecular level evidence for the biocompatibility of the three kinds of GQDs. The cellular distribution of the three modified GQDs was observed using a fluorescence microscope. The data revealed that GQDs randomly dispersed in the cytoplasm but not diffused into nucleus. Therefore, GQDs with different functional groups have low cytotoxicity and excellent biocompatibility regardless of chemical modification, offering good prospects for bioimaging and other biomedical applications.

Interplay of calcium and cadmium in mediating cadmium toxicity

The environmentally important toxic metal, cadmium, exists as the Cd(2+) ion in biological systems, and in this state structurally resembles Ca(2+). Thus, although cadmium exerts a broad range of adverse actions on cells by virtue of its propensity to bind to protein thiol groups, it is now well appreciated that Cd(2+) participates in a number of Ca(2+)-dependent pathways, attributable to its actions as a Ca(2+) mimetic, with a central role for calmodulin, and the Ca(2+)/calmodlin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK-II) that mediates effects on cytoskeletal dynamics and apoptotic cell death. Cadmium interacts with receptors and ion channels on the cell surface, and with the intracellular estrogen receptor where it binds competitively to residues shared by Ca(2+). It increases cytosolic [Ca(2+)] through several mechanisms, but also decreases transcript levels of some Ca(2+)-transporter genes. It initiates mitochondrial apoptotic pathways, and activates calpains, contributing to mitochondria-independent apoptosis. However, the recent discovery of the role CaMK-II plays in Cd(2+)-induced cell death, and subsequent implication of CaMK-II in Cd(2+)-dependent alterations of cytoskeletal dynamics, has opened a new area of mechanistic cadmium toxicology that is a focus of this review. Calmodulin is necessary for induction of apoptosis by several agents, yet induction of apoptosis by Cd(2+) is prevented by CaMK-II block, and Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation of CaMK-II has been linked to increased Cd(2+)-dependent apoptosis. Calmodulin antagonism suppresses Cd(2+)-induced phosphorylation of Erk1/2 and the Akt survival pathway. The involvement of CaMK-II in the effects of Cd(2+) on cell morphology, and particularly the actin cytoskeleton, is profound, favouring actin depolymerization, disrupting focal adhesions, and directing phosphorylated FAK into a cellular membrane. CaMK-II is also implicated in effects of Cd(2+) on microtubules and cadherin junctions. A key question for future cadmium research is whether cytoskeletal disruption leads to apoptosis, or rather if apoptosis initiates cytoskeletal disruption in the context of Cd(2+).

Facile synthesis of chitosan-capped ZnS quantum dots as an eco-friendly fluorescence sensor for rapid determination of bisphenol A in water and plastic samples

Quantitative detection of BPA in water and plastic samples was developed based on fluorescence quenching of eco-friendly chitosan-capped ZnS QDs.