Abstract
Seed-mediated growth of fluorescent CdSe quantum dots (QDs) around γ-Fe2O3 magnetic cores was performed at high temperature (300 °C) in the presence of organic surfactants. Bi-functional magnetic quantum dots (MQDs) with tunable emission properties were successfully prepared. The as-synthesized MQDs were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS), which confirmed the assembly of heterodimers. When a longer growth period was employed, a homogeneous dispersion of QDs around a magnetic nanoparticle was obtained. The magnetic properties of these nanocomposites were examined. The MQDs were superparamagnetic with a saturation magnetization of 0.40 emu/g and a coercivity of 138 Oe at 5 K. To demonstrate their potential application in bio-labeling, these MQDs were coated with a thin silica shell, and functionalized with a polyethylene glycol (PEG) derivative. The functionalized MQDs were effectively used for the labeling of live cell membranes of 4T1 mouse breast cancer cells and HepG2 human liver cancer cells.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2150-2158 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Solid State Chemistry |
| Volume | 184 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Magnetic quantum dots
- Seed-mediated growth
- Superparamagnetism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Ceramics and Composites
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry