Xinmin Min

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 of aromatic compounds to Tetrahymena estimated by microcalorimetry and QSAR.

The toxicity of six organic aromatic chemicals to Tetrahymena growth metabolism was studied by microcalorimetry. The growth constant k, inhibitory ratio I, and half-inhibiting concentration IC(50) were calculated. The results suggested that the order of toxicity was aniline>nitrobenzene>chlorobenzene>toluene>benzene>phenol. Based on the molecular descriptors (such as K(OW), E(HOMO), E(LUMO), DeltaE, E(T) and logIC(50)), the QSAR equation is obtained by multiple linear regression analysis: logIC(50)=-3.360-1.545 E(HOMO)-0.6850 DeltaE-0.3019logK(OW) (R=0.8643, n=6, s=0.202, F=0.739, Sig.=0.041, R(CV)(2)=0.624). The equation indicates that the toxic action is a two-step process: the pass of the chemicals through the cell membrane (described by logK(OW)) and the electron-transfer reaction of the chemicals with biomolecules (described by E(HOMO) and DeltaE). The substituents on aromatic ring are crucial to the toxicity of the compounds and the reaction between the chemicals and biological macromolecules is important.

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.

Conjugation and Fluorescence Quenching Between Bovine Serum Albumin and L-Cysteine Capped CdSe/CdS Quantum Dots

Water-soluble, biological-compatible, and excellent fluorescent CdSe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) with L-cysteine as capping agent were synthesized in aqueous medium. Fluorescence (FL) spectra, absorption spectra, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to investigate the quality of the products. The interactions between QDs and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied by absorption and FL titration experiments. With addition of QDs, the FL intensity of BSA was significantly quenched which can be explained by static mechanism in nature. When BSA was added to the solution of QDs, FL intensity of QDs was faintly quenched. Fluorescent imaging suggests that QDs can be designed as a probe to label the Escherchia coli (E. coli) cells. These results indicate CdSe/CdS/L-cysteine QDs can be used as a probe for labeling biological molecule and bacteria cells.