Brightly luminescent (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 quantum dots for in vitro imaging and efficient photothermal ablation therapy.
Herein, we report for the first time a facile strategy for the highly efficient (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 quantum dots (QDs). By modulating the amount of ammonium, (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 QDs with different photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields (QY) were synthesized. The results of X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that the crystal structure of (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 was altered by incorporation of NH4+ cations into the CsPbBr3 lattice. The (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 QDs showed enhanced PL QY, higher photostability, and long-term storage stability compared to CsPbBr3 QDs. Furthermore, (NH4)xCs1-xPbBr3 QDs could be conjugated with a photothermal dye (IR780) via a one-pot reaction using poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride) and IR780-MPTS. To the best of our knowledge, the present work is the first attempt integrating perovskite QDs and phototherapeutic molecules into one system (abbreviated as PQD-IR780), demonstrating good water dispersibility and high photothermal conversion efficiency of 57.85%. In vitro experiments performed to examine subcellular uptake showed high fluorescence brightness was observed in HeLa, B16F1, and HepG2 cancer cells cultured with PQD-IR780. The results indicate that the internalization mechanism for uptaking of PQD-IR780 inside HeLa cells is energy-dependent and caveolin-mediated endocytosis. The in vitro cell viability assays and photothermal therapy revealed that PQD-IR780 showed good biocompatibility and can induce hyperthermia upon laser irradiation.
['Getachew|Girum|G|', 'Huang|Wan-Wen|WW|', 'Chou|Tzung-Han|TH|', 'Rasal|Akash S|AS|', 'Chang|Jia-Yaw|JY|']
D002470:Cell Survival D006367:HeLa Cells D006801:Humans D049449:Luminescence D000082703:Photothermal Therapy D045663:Quantum Dots
Caveolin-mediated endocytosis Photothermal therapy (NH(4))(x)Cs(1-x)PbBr(3) Optical imaging Perovskite quantum dots