Dependence of Quantum Dot Toxicity In Vitro on Their Size, Chemical Composition, and Surface Charge

Alyona Sukhanova (1) , Svetlana Bozrova (2) , Evgeniia Gerasimovich (1) , Maria Baryshnikova (3) , Zinaida Sokolova (3) , Pavel Samokhvalov (2) , Chris Guhrenz (4) , Nikolai Gaponik (4) , Alexander Karaulov (5) , Igor Nabiev (1)

1 LRN - Laboratoire de Recherche en Nanosciences - EA 4682
2 The National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute) [Moscow, Russia]
3 N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology
4 TU Dresden - Technische Universität Dresden = Dresden University of Technology
5 Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University

Semiconductor nanocrystals quantum dots (QDs) are of great interest of researchers and have potential to use in various applications in biomedicine, such as in vitro diagnostics, molecular tracking, in vivo imaging and drug delivery. A systematic analysis of QDs potential hazardous effects is necessary to ensure their safe use. In this study, we obtained water-soluble core/shell QDs differing in size, surface charge or chemical composition of the core. All the synthesized QDs were modified with polyethylene glycol derivatives to obtain outer or-ganic shell protecting nanocrystals from degradation. The physical and chemical parameters were fully characterized. In vitro cytotoxicity of QDs was estimated in both normal and tumor cell lines. We demonstrated that QDs with the smallest size have the highest in vitro cytotoxicity. The most toxic QDs were characterized by a low negative surface charge, while positively charged QDs showed less cytotoxic effect and QDs with a greater negative charge were found to be the least toxic. On the contrary, the chemical composition of the QDs core doesn’t noticeably affect the cytotoxicity in vitro. This study provides a better understanding of influence of the QDs param-eters on their cytotoxicity and can be used to improve the design of nanocrystals. In contrast, the chemical composition of the QD core has practically no effect on the QDs cyto-toxicity in vitro, provided that the epitaxial inorganic shell and the additional outer shell of the modifying ligand (ensuring the colloidal stability and biocompatibility of QDs) reliably protect the QDs from degradation.

Mots clés: quantum dots; semiconductor nanocrystals; cytotoxicity

Domaines: Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique; Médecine humaine et pathologie

Alyona Sukhanova, Svetlana Bozrova, Evgeniia Gerasimovich, Maria Baryshnikova, Zinaida Sokolova, et al.. Dependence of Quantum Dot Toxicity In Vitro on Their Size, Chemical Composition, and Surface Charge. 2022. ⟨hal-03719471v1⟩