Small GSH-Capped CuInS2 Quantum Dots: MPA-Assisted Aqueous Phase Transfer and Bioimaging Applications

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5b05503
• Publication Date: 2015-07-27T10:21:14Z
• Authors: Chuanzhen Zhao; Zelong Bai; Xiangyou Liu; Yijia Zhang; Bingsuo Zou; Haizheng Zhong
• Keywords: Aqueous two-phase system

An efficient ligand exchange strategy for aqueous phase transfer of hydrophobic CuInS2/ZnS quantum dots was developed by employing glutathione (GSH) and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as the ligands. The whole process takes less than 20 min can be scaled up to gram amount. material characterizations show that final soluble samples are solely capped with GSH on surface. Importantly, these GSH-capped have small size (hydrodynamic diameter <10 nm), moderate fluorescent properties (up 34%) well high stability in solutions (stable more three months 4 °C without any significant fluorescence quenching). Moreover, this is also versatile other dots, instance, CuInSe2 CdSe/ZnS dots. We further demonstrated could suitable markers penetrate cell membrane image cells. In addition, CuInS2 potential use fields such photocatalysis sensitized solar