Biophotonic Studies of Mammalian Cells with Nanosecond Pulsed Power Using Quantum Dots

Author

Sun, Y. ; Vernier, P.T. ; Liu, Y.-S. ; Black, T. ; Liang, C.-H. ; Chong, S.Y. ; Chen, M.-T. ; Tang, T. ; Marcu, L. ; Gundersen, M.A.

Author_Institution

Mork Family Dept. of Chem. Eng. & Mater. Sci., Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

fYear

2006

fDate

14-18 May 2006

Firstpage

570

Lastpage

572

Abstract

We report the delivery of quantum dot (QD) fluorescence probes into mammalian cells by electroporation and endocytosis. The pH sensitivity of mercaptoacetic-acid-capped CdSe/ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (MAA QDs) was investigated in both solution and living cells, demonstrating the potential of QDs as an intracellular pH sensor with long-term photostability and limited photobleaching. Further, QDs were utilized to enhance the effects of nanosecond electric pulses (nanoelectropulses) on malignant cells. Nanoelectropulse treatment is a developing technique for cancer therapy by inducing programmed cell death (apoptosis) of cancer cells, while the introduction of semiconductor particles could modify the electric characterization of biological cells

Keywords

II-VI semiconductors; bioelectric phenomena; biological effects of fields; biosensors; cadmium compounds; cancer; cellular effects of radiation; chemical sensors; fluorescence; nanoparticles; optical saturable absorption; pH measurement; patient treatment; semiconductor devices; semiconductor quantum dots; tumours; zinc compounds; CdSe-ZnSe-ZnS; apoptosis; biophotonic studies; cancer cells; cancer therapy; electric characterization; electroporation; endocytosis; intracellular pH sensor; long-term photostability; malignant cells; mammalian cells; mercaptoacetic-acid-capped quantum dots; nanoelectropulse treatment; nanosecond electric pulse effects; nanosecond pulsed power; photobleaching; programmed cell death; quantum dot fluorescence probes; semiconductor particles; Biophotonics; Cancer; Cells (biology); Fluorescence; Medical treatment; Nanobioscience; Photobleaching; Probes; Quantum dots; Zinc compounds;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Power Modulator Symposium, 2006. Conference Record of the 2006 Twenty-Seventh International

Conference_Location

Arlington, VA

Print_ISBN

1-4244-0018-X

Electronic_ISBN

1-4244-0019-8

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/MODSYM.2006.365315

Filename

4216267