Water-Soluble and Bright Luminescent Cesium–Lead–Bromide Perovskite Quantum Dot–Polymer Composites for Tumor-Derived Exosome Imaging

Abstract

Cesium−lead-halide perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) are a highly promising class of the next-generation optical material for bioimaging applications. Herein, we present a nanocomposite strategy for the design of water-soluble, highly luminescence CsPbBr 3 PQD nanocomposites without modifying the crystal symmetry and photoluminescence (PL) property. Water-soluble PQDs are reproducibly synthesized via encapsulating CsPbBr 3 PQDs with polystyrene-blockpoly(ethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene (PS−PEB-PS) and poly-(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol (PEG−PPG-PEG). In the reported design, the polystyrene triblock polymers strongly interact with the hydrophobic parts of PQDs, and the water-soluble PEG moiety acts as a protection layer to effectively prevent degradation of PQDs in water. The outer shell PEG layer also helps to develop biocompatible PQDs. Reported data indicate that encapsulating CsPbBr 3 PQDs with a polymer helps to improve the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) from 83% to 88%, which may be due to a decrease in the surface defects after the effective polymer coating. Experimental data show that the PL intensity from CsPbBr 3 PQD nanocomposites remains unchanged even after 30 days of exposure in air. Similarly, reported data indicate that nanocomposites retain their luminescence properties in water for the first 8 days and then decrease slowly to 60% of its initial PL intensity after one month. On the other hand, the PL emission for the PQD without polymer encapsulation is completely quenched within a few hours. Exosomes are a highly promising avenue for accessing tumor type and stage and monitoring cancer treatment response. Reported data reveal that anti-CD63 antibody-attached PQD nanocomposites are capable of tracking triple-negative MDA-MB-231 breast tumor-derived exosomes via binding using anti-CD63 antibody and selective green luminescence imaging using PQD nanocomposites.

Water Triggered Synthesis of Highly Stable and Biocompatible 1D Nanowire, 2D Nanoplatelet, and 3D Nanocube CsPbBr3 Perovskites for Multicolor Two-Photon Cell Imaging

“…In this condition, the structure became loose, which allowed it to form decoupled [PbBr 6 ] 4– octahedrons. 28 − 36 These octahedral monomers help to form bigger hexagonal particles, which allows them to develop 3D CsPbBr 3 nanocubes, and they are protected by the hydroxy (OH) group. 33 − 43 …”

“… 21 − 43 As we and others have reported, CsPbX 3 perovskites decompose fast when exposed to water or kept in a moist environment. 28 − 40 As a result, enhancing the long-time stability of CsPbX 3 perovskites is the most important parameter to promote commercial applications. 30 − 44 …”

Mixed-Dimensional Heterostructure Material-Based SERS for Trace Level Identification of Breast Cancer-Derived Exosomes

“…Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which lacks estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, is usually highly aggressive and difficult to treat. 32 − 35 Several recent reports show that exosomes can be minimally invasive biomarkers for accessing the stage for TNBC and other types of cancer. 36 − 45 Exosomes are well-documented cell-derived vesicles which are loaded with variety of proteins, micro RNA, noncoding RNAs, and DNA.…”

Modular Zwitterion-Functionalized Poly(Isopropyl Methacrylate) Polymers for Hosting Luminescent Lead-Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals

“…Furthermore, the broad range of potential applications means that different functional polymer matrices may be required for different uses. For instance, whereas as-synthesized NCs can be supported in various apolar polymers, 30,[36][37][38][39][40] some applications require that NCs are suspended in silicone, 21,[41][42][43] aqueous, 44 fluorinated, 32,[45][46][47] or semiconducting [48][49][50] matrices to enable the desired functionalities. Because these host matrices have limited chemical compatibility with the aliphatic ligands often used to stabilize perovskite NCs, additional interface modifiers must be introduced to improve compatibility between the native NC surface ligands and the polymer.…”

“…The interface modifier approach has been demonstrated by direct synthesis of perovskite NCs in a hydrophobically stabilized micelle of lauryl methacrylate 40 and by using custom polymers that form micelles to stabilize the NCs in different hosts, 44,[51][52][53][54] with varying levels of success.…”