Assessment of cytotoxicity of quantum dots and gold nanoparticles using cell-based impedance spectroscopy

A continuous online technique based on electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) was demonstrated for measuring the concentration and time response function of fibroblastic V79 cells exposed to nanomaterials such as quantum dots (QDs) and fluorescent gold nanoparticles. The half-inhibition concentration, (ECIS50), the required concentration to attain 50% inhibition of the cytotoxic response, was estimated from the response function to ascertain cytotoxicity during the course of measurement. The ECIS50 values agreed well with the results obtained using the standard neutral red assay. Cadmium selenide quantum dots showed direct cytotoxicity with the ECIS assay. For the cadmium telluride quantum dots, significant toxicity could be assigned to free cadmium, although additional toxicity could be attributed to the QDs per se. The QDs synthesized with indium gallium phosphide and the fluorescent gold nanoparticles were not cytotoxic.