Aqueous synthesis of type-II CdTe/CdSe core-shell quantum dots for fluorescent probe labeling tumor cells
by Zeng, R. S.; Zhang, T. T.; Liu, J. C.; Hu, S.; Wan, Q.; Liu, X. M.; Peng, Z. W.; Zou, B. S.
In this paper, we report a two-step aqueous synthesis of highly luminescent CdTe/CdSe core/shell quantum dots (QDs) via a simple method. The emission range of the CdTe/CdSe QDs can be tuned from 510 to 640 nm by controlling the thickness of the CdSe shell. Accordingly, the photoluminescence quantum yield (PL QY) of CdTe/CdSe QDs with an optimized thickness of the CdSe shell can reach up to 40%. The structures and compositions of the core/shell QDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy experiments, and their formation mechanism is discussed. Furthermore, folate conjugated CdTe/CdSe QDs in Hela cells were assessed with a fluorescence microscope. The results show that folate conjugated CdTe/CdSe QDs could enter tumor cells efficiently.
- Journal
- Nanotechnology
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 9
- Year
- 2009
- URL
- https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/20/9/095102
- ISBN/ISSN
- 1361-6528; 0957-4484
- DOI
- 10.1088/0957-4484/20/9/095102