Preparation and Biological Effect of Nucleotide-Capped CdSe/ZnS Quantum Dots on Tetrahymena thermophila

Abstract

In this paper, we described the preparation and characterization of different types of modified CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and explored the biological effects of QDs with different surface modifications on the whole growth of unicellular protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila BF(5) using a thermal activity monitor air isothermal microcalorimeter. Our results demonstrated that adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) showed stronger interaction with QDs than other types of nucleotide. AMP-QDs could stimulate the growth of T. thermophila while mercaptoacetic acid-capped CdSe/ZnS quantum dots inhibited it. In addition, the population density determination and fluorescence imaging of T. thermophila BF(5) also confirmed the results obtained from microcalorimetry. It is believed that this approach will provide a more convenient methodology for the kinetics and thermodynamics of microorganism when coexisting with QDs in real time, and all of which are very significant to understanding the effect of QDs to organism.

Effects of representative quantum dots on microorganisms and phytoplankton: a comparative study

“…35 In previous research, the population growth rate of P. tricornutum was stimulated when [QDs] # 0.2 nM. 36,37 This effect is also reported in vivo with CdSe/ZnS-QDs and other nanoparticles. However, the effects of CQDs on organisms were less characterized.…”

Self‐Assembly of Nucleobase, Nucleoside and Nucleotide Coordination Polymers: From Synthesis to Applications

“…The coated CP layer may be further used for entrapping guest molecules and for increasing the colloidal stability of the nanoparticle core. Beyond iron oxide, nucleotides have been used to coat Au nanoparticles, Ag nanoparticles, and semiconductor quantum dots . Datta and co‐workers claimed ATP coated AgNPs for antibacterial studies (Figure D) .…”

Nanodiamond for intracellular imaging in the microorganisms in vivo

“…In contrast to SWCNT, the protozoans seemed not to be very sensitive to C 60 fullerene [34], as well as negligible small effect on the proliferation of fullerenol C 60 (OH) x was observed [35]. For nanoparticles used in protozoa studies, successful observation of fluorescent QD inside the ciliate protozoa was demonstrated [30,46]. Iron oxide particles (magnetite) were internalized by Tetrahymena pyriformis and the method which allows control of the swimming direction of an individual cell using the particles magnetizing is discussed [37].…”

“…These microorganisms are widely used as model system for study the toxicity of environmental agents; and on the other hand, ciliated protozoa are very well studied and extensively used as a model organism in cell biology, genetics studies, etc. [28][29][30]. Particularly, they are used for phagocytosis and exocytosis studies; protozoa can feed on suspended particles in range of sizes from nm to microns; as result, they are an excellent model organism to the study in situ the biodistribution of the internalized nanoparticles and of their toxic effects at the same time.…”

“…The toxic effect of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles in natural waters was found mainly due to dissolved metal ions rather than nanomaterials factors such as particles size and aggregation [28,29]. Stimulation or inhibition effect of CdSe/ZnS QD on the growth of T. thermophile was found depended on the biocompatibility of QD coating [30]. As for carbon nanoparticles, toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNT) for Paramecium caudatum (P. caudatum) and influence on the proliferation was determined and depended on the compounds of used medium and their interaction with CNT [31,32].…”