Tingting Fang

Bovine serum albumin-directed synthesis of biocompatible CdSe quantum dots and bacteria labeling.

A simple method was developed for preparing CdSe quantum dots (QDs) using a common protein (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) to sequester QD precursors (Cd(2+)) in situ. Fluorescence (FL) and absorption spectra showed that the chelating time between BSA and Cd(2+), the molar ratio of BSA/Cd(2+), temperature, and pH are the crucial factors for the quality of QDs. The average QD particle size was estimated to be about 5 nm, determined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. With FL spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis, an interesting mechanism was discussed for the formation of the BSA-CdSe QDs. The results indicate that there might be conjugated bonds between CdSe QDs and -OH, -NH, and -SH groups in BSA. In addition, fluorescence imaging suggests that the QDs we designed can successfully label Escherichia coli cells, which gives us a great opportunity to develop biocompatible tools to label bacteria cells.

Direct synthesis of high-quality water-soluble CdTe:Zn2+ quantum dots.

The synthesis of water-soluble and low-cytotoxicity quantum dots (QDs) in aqueous solution has received much attention recently. A one-step and convenient method has been developed for synthesis of water-soluble glutathione (GSH)-capped and Zn(2+)-doped CdTe QDs via a refluxing route. Because of the addition of Zn ions and the epitaxial growth of a CdS layer, the prepared QDs exhibit superior properties, including strong fluorescence, minimal cytotoxicity, and enhanced biocompatibility. The optical properties of QDs are characterized by UV-vis and fluorescence (FL) spectra. The structure of QDs was verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the low cytotoxicity of the prepared QDs was proved by the microcalorimetric technique and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES).

Toxicity evaluation of CdTe quantum dots with different size on Escherichia coli.

Quantum dots (QDs) have a great potential for applications in nanomedicine. However, a few studies showed that they also exhibited toxicity. We used Escherichia coli (E. coli) as the model to study the effect of CdTe QDs on the cell growth by microcalorimetric technique, optical density (OD(600)) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra. Three size aqueous-compatible CdTe QDs with maximum emission of 543 nm (green-emitting QDs, GQDs), 579 nm (yellow-emitting QDs, YQDs) and 647 nm (red-emitting QDs, RQDs) were tested. The growth rate constants (k) and half-inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) were calculated from the microcalorimetric data. The results indicated that CdTe QDs exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth. The order of toxicity is GQDs>YQDs>RQDs. The smaller the particle size of QDs is, the more toxicity it is. ATR-FTIR spectra indicated that the outer membrane of the cell was changed or damaged by the QDs, which may induce QDs and harmful by-products to enter into the cells. These could be one of the reasons that CdTe QDs have cytotoxic effects on E. coli.

Study of the bioeffects of CdTe quantum dots on Escherichia coli cells.

Quantum dots (QDs) hold great potential for applications in nanomedicine, however, only a few studies investigate their toxic- and bio-effects. Using Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells as model, we found that CdTe QDs exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on cell growth by microcalorimetric technique and optical density (OD(600)). The growth rate constants (k) were determined, which showed that they were related to the concentration of QDs. The mechanism of cytotoxicity of QDs was also studied through the attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra, fluorescence (FL) polarization, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was clear that the cell out membrane was changed or damaged by the addition of QDs. Taken together, the results indicated that CdTe QDs have cytotoxic effects on E. coli cells, and this effects might attribute to the damaged structure of the cell out membrane, thus QDs and by-products (free radicals, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and free Cd(2+)) which might enter the cells.

Acute toxicity of chlorobenzenes in Tetrahymena: Estimated by microcalorimetry and mechanism

The toxicity of chlorobenzenes to Tetrahymena growth metabolism was studied by microcalorimetry. The growth constant (k), peak time (T) and generation times (T(G)) were calculated. IC(50) of chlorobenzenes was obtained through the kinetic parameters. The results suggested that the order of toxicity was 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene>o-dichlorobenzene>p-dichlorobenzene>m-dichlorobenzene>chlorobenzene. ATR-FTIR spectra revealed that amide groups and PO(2)(-) of the phospholipid phospho-diester, both in the hydrophobic end exposed to the outer layer, were the easiest to be damaged. The relationship between IC(50) and chemicals structure parameters (E(LUMO), E(HOMO), logK(OW), ∑Q(R), ΔQ(πR) and ΔE), indicated that the more chlorine atoms were substituted, the greater the toxicity was. Chlorobenzenes have toxicity of non-polar narcosis. Their toxicity is proportional to their concentrations at the site of action, and caused by membrane perturbation.

The action of norfloxacin complexes on Tetrahymena investigated by microcalorimetry

Cu(nor)2·H2O (1), Zn(nor)2·4H2O (2), Ni(nor)2·2H2O (3), [Cu(nor)(phen)]NO3·4H2O (4), [Zn(nor)(phen)]NO3·2H2O (5), and [Ni(nor)(phen)]NO3·3H2O (6) were synthesized and their action on Tetrahymena growth was studied by microcalorimetry. The growth constant (k), inhibitory ratio (I), and half-inhibiting concentration (IC50) were calculated, which showed that the complexes had a strong inhibitory effect on Tetrahymena. All these complexes can inhibit the growth of Tetrahymena more strongly than norfloxacin. The norfloxacin–metal complexes exhibited better inhibitory activity than nor–phen–metal complexes. The power–time curves of Tetrahymena growth in the presence of norfloxacin were also measured. It was found that all complexes showed higher inhibitory activity than norfloxacin. And the inhibitory mechanism was discussed preliminarily. The diverse inhibition may be due to the ability of the complexes to penetrate into cells and the effect of these complexes on the nucleic acid. Microcalorimetry has been used extensively in many biological and chemical investigations as a universal, non-destructive, continuously running, and highly sensitive tool.

The toxicity of binary mixture of Cu (II) ion and phenols on Tetrahymena thermophila.

The toxicity of binary mixture of Cu(2+) and phenols (phenol; o-nitrophenol; m-nitrophenol; p-nitrophenol) was evaluated using Tetrahymena thermophila as the model organism, by microcalorimetry, optical density, field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The growth curves and metabolic properties of Tetrahymena exposed to Cu(2+) and phenols were monitored by microcalorimetry. Binary mixture toxicity changed with the concentration of Cu(2+)/phenols and the order of toxicity was Cu(2+)/phenol<Cu(2+)/m-nitrophenol<Cu(2+)/o-nitrophenol<Cu(2+)/p-nitrophenol. The results of FESEM and ATR-FTIR also indicated that Cu(2+)/phenols had a great effect on cell cortex and flagellum. A synergistic effect was noted between Cu(2+) and phenols on Tetrahymena.