Highly Emitting Perovskite Nanocrystals with 2-Year Stability in Water through an Automated Polymer Encapsulation for
Sahitya Kumar Avugadda, Andrea Castelli, Balaji Dhanabalan
1Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico (IDM), Universitat Politècnica de València-Universitat de València, Camino de Vera s/n, E46022 València, Spain.
ACS Nano
|August 1, 2022
Summary
We developed a method to encapsulate lead halide perovskite nanocrystals in water-soluble polymer capsules, enhancing their stability and enabling their use as safe photoluminescent probes for cell imaging.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) offer high luminescence but face challenges with environmental stability and biotoxicity.
- Developing robust encapsulation strategies is crucial for their practical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a method for encapsulating cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr3) perovskite NCs into water-soluble polymer capsules.
- To assess the photoluminescence stability, scalability, and biocompatibility of the encapsulated NCs for potential use in cell imaging.
Main Methods:
- A stepwise encapsulation protocol was developed to embed CsPbBr3 NCs within polymer capsules.
- The photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and stability of encapsulated NCs were evaluated over two years in aqueous dispersion.
- The encapsulation process was adapted for an automated platform.
- Cytotoxicity and cell imaging capabilities were assessed using low doses of encapsulated NCs.
Main Results:
- The encapsulation protocol yielded a high photoluminescence quantum yield of approximately 60%, stable for two years in water.
- The on-bench strategy was successfully adapted to an automated platform, improving fabrication speed and reproducibility.
- The encapsulated NCs demonstrated effective cell imaging at a low lead concentration (0.3 μgPb/mL), below established toxicity thresholds.
Conclusions:
- The developed encapsulation method significantly enhances the stability and water-dispersibility of lead halide perovskite NCs.
- This approach enables the safe and effective use of these luminescent materials as probes in biological and biomedical applications, including cell imaging.
