Fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) have the potential to revolutionize biological imaging, but their use has been limited by difficulties in obtaining nanocrystals that are biocompatible. To address this problem, we encapsulated individual nanocrystals in phospholipid block–copolymer micelles and demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo imaging. When conjugated to DNA, the nanocrystal-micelles acted as in vitro fluorescent probes to hybridize to specific complementary sequences. Moreover, when injected into Xenopus embryos, the nanocrystal-micelles were stable, nontoxic (<5 × 109 nanocrystals per cell), cell autonomous, and slow to photobleach. Nanocrystal fluorescence could be followed to the tadpole stage, allowing lineage-tracing experiments in embryogenesis.

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In vivo imaging with quantum dots encapsulated in phospholipid micelles

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1070/RCR4656/pdf

Colloidal quantum dots: synthesis, properties and applications

The interest in functional supramolecular systems for the design of innovative materials and technologies, able to fundamentally change the world, is growing at a high pace. The huge array of publications that appeared in recent years in the global literature calls for systematization of the structural trends inherent in the formation of these systems revealed at different molecular platforms and practically useful properties they exhibit. The attention is concentrated on the topics related to functional supramolecular systems that are actively explored in institutes and universities of Russia in the last 10–15 years, such as the chemistry of host–guest complexes, crystal engineering, self-assembly and self-organization in solutions and at interfaces, biomimetics and molecular machines and devices. The bibliography includes 1714 references.

Functional supramolecular systems: design and applications

Nanostructured silver sulfide is one of the semiconducting chalcogenides most in demand, due to its unique combination of structure, physical, and chemical properties, and its potential applications in optoelectronics, biosensing, and catalysis. Much research has been carried out in the last decade, with the goals of producing silver sulfide in the form of nanopowders, stable colloidal solutions, quantum dots with protective shells, and heteronanostructures by different chemical and physical methods. This review considers the main challenges in the synthesis of all these forms of nanostructured silver sulfide by a universal, simple, and environmentally friendly method without the use or generation of any hazardous substances. Recent experimental studies have revealed that such universal synthesis can be carried out by hydrochemical bath deposition.

Universal Approach to the Synthesis of Silver Sulfide in the Forms of Nanopowders, Quantum Dots, Core-Shell Nanoparticles, and Heteronanostructures

Metal sulphides, and in particular transition metal sulphide colloids, are a broad, versatile and exciting class of inorganic compounds which deserve growing interest and attention ascribable to the functional properties that many of them display. With respect to their oxide homologues, however, they are characterised by noticeably different chemical, structural and hence functional features. Their potential applications span several fields, and in many of the foreseen applications (e.g., in bioimaging and related fields), the achievement of stable colloidal suspensions of metal sulphides is highly desirable or either an unavoidable requirement to be met. To this aim, robust functionalisation strategies should be devised, which however are, with respect to metal or metal oxides colloids, much more challenging. This has to be ascribed, inter alia, also to the still limited knowledge of the sulphides surface chemistry, particularly when comparing it to the better established, though multifaceted, oxide surface chemistry. A ground-breaking endeavour in this field is hence the detailed understanding of the nature of the complex surface chemistry of transition metal sulphides, which ideally requires an integrated experimental and modelling approach. In this review, an overview of the state-of-the-art on the existing examples of functionalisation of transition metal sulphides is provided, also by focusing on selected case studies, exemplifying the manifold nature of this class of binary inorganic compounds.

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Functionalisation of Colloidal Transition Metal Sulphides Nanocrystals: A Fascinating and Challenging Playground for the Chemist

Key results of recent studies on cadmium sulfide nanoparticles are systematized. The dependence of the structure and properties of CdS nanoparticles on the nanoparticle size is illustrated. The possibility of utilizing CdS quantum dots as biological labels and sensitizers for solar cells is analyzed. The principles, features and potential of the method of aqueous solution deposition are described from the standpoint of synthesis of CdS nanocrystals and hybrid forms based on them with specified structure and properties.The bibliography includes 180 references.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1070/RCR4452/pdf

A A Uritskaya

Papers

Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles prepared by chemical bath deposition

The effect of sulfur precursor on the morphology, properties and formation mechanism of chemical bath deposited Pb1+xS thin solid films