An improved synthesis of Mn-doped ZnSe quantum dots offers tailored fluorescent labels for biomedical imaging.
Mn:ZnSe quantum dots have many interesting properties including tuneable photoluminescence, high colour purity and biocompatibility. To improve the properties Hongzhi Wang, Yaogang Li, and colleagues at Donghua University, Shanghai, China, have developed a new synthesis. The simple aqueous phase method allows control over the size of the quantum dots and the photoluminescence can be tuned across a broader range by changing the reaction conditions. The quantum dots created by this method also have a higher quantum yield compared to previous synthetic routes which should improve the performance of any biomedical imaging agents based on this material.
Mn:ZnSe quantum produced by this method are more stable than CdTe to UV irradiation and chemical oxidation. Mn:ZnSe quantum dots don’t contain Cd (a common component in quantum dots) eliminating the risk of Cd leaching from the material and poisoning patients. The stability and lack of Cd makes these quantum dots promising candidates for biomedical applications.
Read the full article here: Pengtao Shao, Qinghong Zhang, Yaogang Li and Hongzhi Wang, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, DOI: 10.1039/C0JM01878C
