Colloidal quantum dots suitability for long term cell imaging

Abstract

Fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles in tree-dimensional quantum confinement, quantum dots (QDs), synthesized in aqueous medium, and functionalized with polyethylene glycol, were used as probes for the long-term imaging of glial cells. In vitro living healthy as well as cancer glial cells were labelled by direct insertion of a small volume of QDs contained in aqueous suspension into the culture wells. A long-term monitoring (over 7 days) of the cells was performed and no evidence of cell fixation and/or damage was observed. Two control groups, healthy and cancer glial cells, were used to compare cell viability. During the observation period, labelled and non labelled cells presented the same dynamics and no difference was observed regarding cell viability. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the viability of hydrophilic prepared quantum dots without any further surface treatment than the polyethylene-glycol coverage for the long-term imaging of living cells. Further, the study also permitted the observation of two distinct interaction mechanisms between cells and QDs. Healthy glial cells were mainly labelled at their surface, while non-healthy glial cells have shown a high rate in the uptake of QDs.