CdS nanoparticles‐ enhanced chemiluminescence and determination of baicalin in pharmaceutical preparations

CdS nanoparticles (CdS NPs) of different sizes were synthesized by the citrate reduction method. It was found that CdS NPs could enhance the chemiluminescence (CL) of the luminol‐potassium ferricyanide system and baicalin could inhibit CdS NPs‐enhanced luminol‐potassium ferricyanide CL signals in alkaline solution. Based on this inhibition, a flow‐injection CL method was established for determination of baicalin in pharmaceutical preparations and human urine samples. Under optimized conditions, the linear range for determination of baicalin was 5.0 x 10^?6 to 1.0 x 10^?3 g/L. The detection limit at a signal‐to‐noise ratio of 3 was 1.7 x 10 ^?6 g/L. CL spectra, UV‐visible spectra and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to investigate the CL mechanism. The method described is simple, selective and obviates the need of extensive sample pretreatment. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Highly luminescent CdTe/CdS/ZnO core/shell/shell quantum dots fabricated using an aqueous strategy

To create core/shell/shell quantum dots (QDs) with high stability against a harmful chemical environment, CdTe/CdS QDs were coated with a ZnO shell in an aqueous solution. An interfaced CdS layer sandwiched between a CdTe core and ZnO shell provided relaxation of the strain at the core/shell interface since lattice parameters of CdS are intermediate between those of CdTe and ZnO. The photoluminescence (PL) peak wavelength of the core/shell/shell QDs was shifted from 569 to 615 nm by adjusting the size of CdTe cores and thickness of CdS and ZnO shells, along with the highest PL quantum yield of the core/shell/shell QDs reaching 80%, which implies promising applications in the field of biomedical labeling. Due to the decrease of surface defects, it was observed that PL lifetimes significantly increased at room temperature as follows: 29.6 34.2, and 47.5 ns for CdTe (537 nm), CdTe/CdS (555 nm) and CdTe/CdS/ZnO (581 nm) QDs, respectively. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence of novel TiO2/CdS nanocomposites for sensitive assays of cancer cells

A novel TiO₂/CdS nanocomposite was prepared and used to fabricate an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) biosensor for the detection of cancer cells for the first time. The nanocomposite exhibited a strong cathodic ECL signal. Folic acid for targeting cell membranes was bound to a TiO₂/CdS/3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane film, and specific recognition of folic acid to targeting cells was achieved, leading to a significant decrease in ECL intensity. The decrease in ECL signal was logarithmically related to the cell concentration in the range of 150–9600 cells mL^-1. The ECL biosensor could provide a sensitive, selective, and convenient approach for early and accurate detection of cancer cells.     

Interaction properties of biosynthesized cadmium sulphide quantum dots with human serum albumin: further investigation of antibacterial activities and sensing applications

The synthesis of small-sized quantum dots (QDs) (1–10 nm) via the green route has garnered great interest regarding their prospective use in many biological applications (diagnosis, drug delivery and in vivo sensing); this is difficult to achieve using chemical synthesis methods, which produce larger size QD particles and also require hazardous reagents. Here, we synthesized biogenic cadmium sulphide (CdS) QDs using green tea extract as the reducing agent to produce particles that were homogeneous and a smaller size of 2–4 nm. We also elucidated the (a) protein binding, (b) antibacterial use and (c) sensing applications of biogenic CdS QDs in this present work. The biosynthesized CdS QDs were found to have extensive antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis bacterial strains. The introduction of QDs in biological medium can lead to the formation of protein–QD complexes; therefore we investigated the binding interaction of CdS QDs with the carrier protein human serum albumin (HSA) in vitro. The synthesized CdS QDs quenched the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism and the binding constant (K_b) was in the order of 10⁴ M⁻¹. It was also observed that the presence of biogenic CdS QDs affected the HSA–ligand interactions in vitro. The synthesized CdS made highly effective sensors for tetracycline, rifampicin, and bilirubin with limit of detection (LOD) values of 99, 141 and 29 ng/ml, respectively.     

L‐Cysteine capped CdTe–CdS core–shell quantum dots: preparation,characterization and immuno‐labeling of HeLa cells

Functionalized CdTe–CdS core–shell quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution via water‐bathing combined hydrothermal method using L‐cysteine (L‐Cys) as a stabilizer. This method possesses both the advantages of water‐bathing and hydrothermal methods for preparing high‐quality QDs with markedly reduced synthesis time, and better stability than a lone hydrothermal method. The QDs were characterized by transmission electronic microscopy and powder X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The CdTe–CdS QDs with core–shell structure showed both enhanced fluorescence and better photo stability than nude CdTe QDs. After conjugating with antibody rabbit anti‐CEACAM8 (CD67), the as‐prepared l ‐Cys capped CdTe–CdS QDs were successfully used as fluorescent probes for the direct immuno‐labeling and imaging of HeLa cells. It was indicated that this kind of QD would have application potential in bio‐labeling and cell imaging. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A novel nitrite biosensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin immobilized on CdS hollow nanospheres

A novel nitrite biosensor based on the direct electron transfer of hemoglobin (Hb) immobilized on CdS hollow nanospheres (HS-CdS) modified glassy carbon electrode was constructed. The direct electron transfer of Hb showed a pair of redox peaks with a formal potential of -286 mV (vs. SCE) in 0.1M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. It was a surface-controlled electrode process involving a single proton transfer coupled with a reversible one-electron transfer for each heme group of Hb. HS-CdS had a large specific surface area and good biocompatibility and had a better electrochemical response than that of solid spherical CdS. The immobilized Hb on HS-CdS displayed an excellent response to NO(2)(-) with one irreversible electrode process for NO reduction. Under optimal conditions, the biosensor could be used for the determination of NO(2)(-) with a linear range from 0.3 to 182 microM and a detection limit of 0.08 microM at 3 sigma based on the irreversible reduction of NO. HS-CdS provided a good matrix for protein immobilization and had a promising application in constructing sensors.     

Synthesis of glutathione-capped CdS quantum dots and preliminary studies on protein detection and cell fluorescence image.

A series of glutathione (GSH)-capped aqueous CdS quantum dots (QDs) with strong photoluminescence (PL) were prepared by changing the reaction temperatures and times on the basis of optimization of the mole ratio of S to Cd. The reaction time was shortened to about 1/10 compared with that reported previously by increasing the reaction temperature. The absorption and fluorescence spectra indicated good optical properties with PL full width of half-maximum (FWHM) of about 100 nm. The excitation spectrum was broad and continuous in the range 200-480 nm. The PL quantum efficiency (QE) of the prepared QDs was about 36% compared with rhodamine 6G (95%). The shape and size of the CdS QDs were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The prepared QDs were conjugated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and onion inner pellicle cells and used as fluorescence probes for the first time. The results demonstrated that the fluorescence of CdS can be enhanced by BSA and the enhanced fluorescence intensity is proportional to the concentration of BSA in the range 1.0-10 mg/L. The aggregation of CdS in onion inner pellicle cells and its fluorescence images indicated that the QDs can aggregate around cells soaked for 8 h in CdS solution but enter the interior of cells and become aggregated to the nucleus when they are soaked in CdS solution for longer, e.g. 98 h.     

A Hierarchically Organized Photoelectrode Architecture for Highly Efficient CdS/CdSe‐Sensitized Solar Cells

A form of photoelectrode architecture suitable for inorganic semiconductor solar cells is reported. The developed architecture consists of hierarchically organized TiO₂ nanostructures with several tens of nanometer‐sized particles that have a large surface area and open channels with several hundred‐nanometer‐gaps perpendicular to the substrate. These are tailored by controlling the kinetic energy of the ablated species during pulsed laser deposition (PLD). To fabricate the solar cells, CdS and CdSe inorganic sensitizers are assembled onto the architecture by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction and polysulfide solution is used as an electrolyte with lead sulfide counter‐electrodes. The inorganic semiconductor solar cells using the developed architecture (PLD‐TiO₂) show high energy conversion efficiencies of 5.57% compared to a conventional mesoporous TiO₂ film(NP‐TiO₂) (3.84%) with an optical mask at 1 sun of illumination. The improved cell performance of PLD‐TiO₂ is attributed to greater light‐harvesting ability, which results in the enhancement of the J_sc value. PLD‐TiO₂ absorbs more CdS/CdSe because of its larger surface area and excellent adhesion properties with fluorine‐doped tin oxide (FTO) substrates. Additionally, due to its unique channel‐shaped architecture, PLD‐TiO₂ has a longer electron lifetime compared to NP‐TiO₂.     

Fluorescence quenching investigation on the interaction of glutathione‐CdTe/CdS quantum dots with sanguinarine and its analytical application

Water‐soluble glutathione (GSH)‐capped core/shell CdTe/CdS quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized. In pH 5.4 sodium phosphate buffer medium, the interaction between GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs and sanguinarine (SA) was investigated by spectroscopic methods, including fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopy. Addition of SA to GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs results in fluorescence quenching of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs. Quenching intensity was in proportion to the concentration of SA in a certain range. Investigation of the quenching mechanism, proved that the fluorescence quenching of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs by SA is a result of electron transfer. Based on the quenching of the fluorescence of GSH‐CdTe/CdS QDs by SA, a novel, simple, rapid and specific method for SA determination was proposed. The detection limit for SA was 3.4 ng/mL and the quantitative determination range was 0.2–40.0 µg/mL with a correlation coefficient of 0.9988. The method has been applied to the determination of SA in synthetic samples and fresh urine samples of healthy human with satisfactory results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of Adding Alkaline Material on the Heavy Metal Chemical Fractions in Soil under Flooded and Non-Flooded Conditions

We investigated the effect of adding an alkaline material (containing calcium carbonate and gypsum) on the immobilization of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in a paddy soil slightly contaminated with Cd and Zn under flooded and non-flooded conditions in the laboratory. Adding the alkaline material increased the soil pH and significantly decreased the exchangeable fraction of all of the metals, especially for Cd (>75% decrease) and Zn (ca. 90% decrease), under both flooded and non-flooded conditions. Drying the flooded soil samples increased the ratio of exchangeable fraction to the total fraction, particularly for Cd. The exchangeable fraction ratio was lower in the dried, previously flooded samples that contained the alkaline material than in the samples that did not contain the alkaline material, indicating that adding the alkaline material would be an effective way of immobilizing heavy metals during the oxidation of anoxic soils. These results show that the alkaline material can be used to immobilize heavy metals under both anoxic and oxic conditions, and that the effects of flooding and amending a paddy soil with alkaline material on the chemical forms will be different between heavy metals.