RESUMO
Sialic acids (SAs) modulate essential physiological and pathological conditions, including cell-cell communication, immune response, neurological disorders, and cancer. Besides, SAs confer negative charges to cell membranes, also contributing to hemorheology. Phenylboronic acids, called as mimetic lectins, have been highlighted to study SA profiles. The association of these interesting molecules with the optical properties of quantum dots (QDs) can provide a deeper/complementary understanding of mechanisms involving SAs. Herein, we explored the thiol affinity to the QD surface to develop a simple, fast and direct attachment procedure to functionalize these nanocrystals with 3-mercaptophenylboronic acids (MPBAs). The functionalization was confirmed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma spectrometry. The conjugate specificity/efficiency was proved in experiments using red blood cells (RBCs). A labeling >90% was found for RBCs incubated with conjugates, which reduced to 17% after neuraminidase pretreatment. Moreover, QDs-MPBA conjugates were applied in a comparative study using acute (KG-1) and chronic (K562) myelogenous leukemia cell lines. Results indicated that KG-1 membranes have a greater level of SA, with 100% of cells labeled and a median of fluorescence intensity of ca. 2.5-fold higher when compared to K562 (94%). Therefore, this novel QDs-MPBA conjugate can be considered a promising nanoplatform to evaluate SA contents in a variety of biological systems.
Assuntos
Compostos de Cádmio/química , Membrana Celular/química , Pontos Quânticos/química , Ácidos Siálicos/química , Telúrio/química , Compostos de Cádmio/síntese química , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Humanos , Tamanho da Partícula , Espectrometria de Fluorescência , Propriedades de SuperfícieRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The safe use in biomedicine of semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots (QDs), requires a detailed understanding of the biocompatibility and toxicity of QDs in human beings. The biological characteristics and physicochemical properties of QDs entail new challenges regarding the management of potential adverse health effects following exposure. At certain concentrations, the synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles of CdS using dextrin as capping agent, at certain concentration, to reduce their toxicity and improves their biocompatibility. RESULTS: This study successfully synthesized and characterized biocompatible dextrin-coated cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-Dx/QDs). The results show that CdS-Dx/QDs are cytotoxic at high concentrations (>2 µg/mL) in HepG2 and HEK293 cells. At low concentrations (<1 µg/mL), CdS-Dx/QDs were not toxic to HepG2 or HeLa cells. CdS-Dx nanoparticles only induced cell death by apoptosis in HEK293 cells at 1 µg/mL concentrations. The in vitro results showed that the cells efficiently took up the CdS-Dx/QDs and this resulted in strong fluorescence. The subcellular localization of CdS-Dx/QDs were usually small and apparently unique in the cytoplasm in HeLa cells but, in the case of HEK293 cells it were more abundant and found in cytoplasm and the nucleus. Animals treated with 100 µg/kg of CdS-Dx/QDs and sacrificed at 3, 7 and 18 h showed a differential distribution in their organs. Intense fluorescence was detected in lung and kidney, with moderate fluorescence detected in liver, spleen and brain. The biocompatibility and toxicity of CdS-Dx/QDs in animals treated daily with 100 µg/kg for 1 week showed the highest level of fluorescence in kidney, liver and brain. Less fluorescence was detected in lung and spleen. There was also evident presence of fluorescence in testis. The histopathological and biochemical analyses showed that CdS-Dx/QDs were non-toxic for rodents. CONCLUSIONS: The in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the effective cellular uptake and even distribution pattern of CdS-Dx/QDs in tissues. CdS-Dx/QDs were biocompatible with tissues from rodents. The CdS-Dx/QDs used in this study can be potentially used in bio-imaging applications.
Assuntos
Materiais Biocompatíveis/química , Compostos de Cádmio/química , Compostos de Cádmio/síntese química , Dextrinas/química , Dextrinas/síntese química , Diagnóstico por Imagem/métodos , Nanopartículas/química , Sulfetos/química , Sulfetos/síntese química , Morte Celular , Sobrevivência Celular , Endocitose , Células HEK293 , Células HeLa , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Microscopia de Fluorescência , Nanopartículas/ultraestrutura , Pontos Quânticos/química , Distribuição TecidualRESUMO
A theoretical and experimental study of isolated nanoparticles of II-VI semiconductor materials has been done. Using the framework of the effective mass model, the optical absorption spectrum of distributions of spherical quantum dots, freestanding, and under compressive or tensile stress, has been examined theoretically. The theoretical results allow one to foresee the absorption spectra of quantum dots made of a series of materials and having any size. The syntheses of colloidal quantum dots of CdS and CdSe has also been performed through wet chemical routes and characterized by means of optical techniques. The values of the strains in the synthesized quantum dots were inferred from a correlation established between the theoretical and the experimental results.