AUTHOR=Han XiaoLe , Yu Fan , Lei JiaWen , Zhu Jiahua , Fu HaiYan , Hu JunCheng , Yang Xiao-Long 

TITLE=Pb2+ Responsive Cu-In-Zn-S Quantum Dots With Low Cytotoxicity

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Chemistry

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/chemistry/articles/10.3389/fchem.2022.821392

DOI=10.3389/fchem.2022.821392

ISSN=2296-2646

ABSTRACT=<p>Water-soluble Cu-In-Zn-S quantum dots (CIZS QDs) with orange fluorescence have been synthesized with a glutathione (GSH) as stabilizer via facile a one-step hydrothermal method. The optimal reaction conditions of CIZS QDs including temperature, time, pH, and the molar ratios of precursors were studied. TEM results indicate that the aqueous-dispersible CIZS QDs are quasi-spherical, and the average diameters are 3.76 nm with excellent fluorescent stability. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of CIZS QDs was investigated by the microcalorimetry combining with TEM and the <italic>IC</italic><sub>50</sub> was 10.2 μM<inline-formula id="inf1"><mml:math id="m1" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mo>.</mml:mo></mml:math></inline-formula> CIZS QDs showed a promising perspective in applications such as a fluorescent probe for bioimaging and biolabeling due to the low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. Moreover, the CIZS QDs can distinguish Pb<sup>2<bold>+</bold></sup> ion from other ions, offering great potentials in lead ion determination in drinking water. According to the results of UV, XRD, FL, PL, and ITC methods, the mechanism of CIZS QDs-Pb<sup>2+</sup> assay is due to hydrogen bonding or van der Waals forces in the formation of Pb<sup>2+</sup> and CIZS QDs.</p>