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Novel POSS-PCU Nanocomposite Material as a Biocompatible Coating for Quantum Dots
Sarwat B Rizvi1, Shi Yu Yang1, Mark Green2
1Centre for Nanotechnology & Regenerative Medicine, UCL Division of Surgery & Interventional Science, University College London , London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Bioconjugate Chemistry
|October 7, 2015
Summary
We developed a novel polymer coating for quantum dots (QDs) to reduce their toxicity and improve stability. This biocompatible POSS-PCU coating enables safer and more durable QDs for bioimaging applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Quantum dots (QDs) offer unique photophysical properties for bioimaging but face limitations due to cadmium-based core toxicity.
- Traditional organic dyes and fluorescent proteins have limitations that QDs could overcome if toxicity issues were addressed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel biocompatible coating for quantum dots (QDs) using a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane poly(carbonate-urea) urethane (POSS-PCU) polymer emulsion.
- To evaluate the toxicity, photostability, and biocompatibility of QD-POSS-PCU nanocomposites for potential biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of POSS-PCU polymer emulsion via emulsion polymerization, forming stable micelles.
- Encapsulation of Cadmium Telluride/Cadmium Sulfide/Zinc Sulfide (CdTe/CdS/ZnS) QDs within the POSS-PCU micelles.
- In vitro biocompatibility testing of the polymer on HepG2, HUVECs, and mouse skeletal muscle cells.
- Assessment of photostability under UV irradiation and air, and cytotoxicity of coated QDs.
Main Results:
- The POSS-PCU polymer formed stable micelles (∼33 nm) and efficiently encapsulated QDs without altering their photophysical properties.
- The polymer demonstrated good biocompatibility with tested cell lines at 2.5% concentration after 24h exposure.
- POSS-PCU coated QDs exhibited enhanced photostability and significantly reduced cytotoxicity compared to uncoated QDs.
Conclusions:
- The novel POSS-PCU polymer emulsion provides a biocompatible and photostable coating for QDs.
- This coating technology has the potential to overcome the toxicity limitations of QDs, enabling advanced biomedical applications.
