ZAIS-based colloidal QDs as fluorescent labels for theranostics: physical properties, biodistribution and biocompatibility

M.S Istomina,V.A Moshnikov,N.A Pechnikova,E.V Shlyakhto,D.V Korolev,E.I Pochkayeva,D.S Mazing,M.M Galagudza

doi:10.24075/brsmu.2018.073

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increase in interest in the use of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) in biology and medicine. In particular, QDs can be a perspective nanoscale object for theranostics, in which due to the specific accumulation of drug-loaded QDs in the pathological focus, its simultaneous visualization and targeted therapeutic influence occur. One of the serious limitations of the use of QDs in medicine is their potential toxicity, especially when the nanocrystal material contains elements such as cadmium or plumbum. Therefore, it is promising to develop labels based on QDs of relatively less toxic semiconductors of group I-III-VI, such as CuInS2 and AgInS2. In this study, biodistribution and biocompatibility of QDs based on the AgInS2 compound with a ZnS shell (ZAIS) are considered. In the study of biodistribution, the accumulation of QDs in organs such as liver, lungs, heart and kidneys was revealed. It was shown that QDs in the dose range from 2 • 10–7 to 4 • 10–6 M/L at intravenous administration in rats does not have a significant effect on body mass dynamics and basic hematological parameters for 30 days. Thus, ZAIS QDs can be used to visualize tissues and organs in various pathological processes, and immobilization of the drugs on their surface will allow to approach their application for theranostics.

Highlights

In recent years there has been an increase in interest in the use of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) in biology and medicine
The results of studies carried out in recent years decisively showed that modifying the surface of QDs or using QDs of a certain composition is accompanied by a significant increase in the biocompatibility of these objects
Extinction and photoluminescence spectra of aqueous dispersion of the ZAIS QDs are shown on Fig. 2

Summary

Introduction

In recent years there has been an increase in interest in the use of colloidal quantum dots (QDs) in biology and medicine. Biodistribution and biocompatibility of QDs based on the AgInS2 compound with a ZnS shell (ZAIS) are considered. ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ КОЛЛОИДНЫХ КВАНТОВЫХ ТОЧЕК AGINS2/ZNS В КАЧЕСТВЕ ФЛУОРЕСЦЕНТНЫХ МЕТОК ДЛЯ ТЕРАНОСТИКИ: ФИЗИЧЕСКИЕ СВОЙСТВА, БИОРАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ И БИОСОВМЕСТИМОСТЬ. КТ на основе соединения AgInS2 в оболочке ZnS могут быть использованы для визуализации тканей и органов при различных патологических процессах, а возможность иммобилизации на их поверхности лекарственных средств позволит рекомендовать их к применению для тераностики. The results of studies carried out in recent years decisively showed that modifying the surface of QDs or using QDs of a certain composition is accompanied by a significant increase in the biocompatibility of these objects. ZnS-CdSe QDs conjugated with tripeptide arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) in systemic administration in mice showed no toxic properties in the histological study, and analysis of the tissue samples by mass spectrometry did not reveal Cd2+ ions [12]. Carbon QDs and their combinations with various nanoparticles (e.g., based on iron [15]) are non-toxic

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