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In Vitro Approaches to Assessing the Toxicity of Quantum Dots

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Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1199))

Abstract

Advances in nanotechnology have produced a new class of fluorescent nanoparticles known as quantum dots (Qdots). Compared with organic dyes and fluorescent proteins, Qdots offer several unique advantages in terms of spectral range, brightness, and photostability. Relative to other imaging modalities, optical imaging with Qdots is highly sensitive, quantitative, and capable of multiplexing. Thus, Qdots are being developed for a wide range of applications, including biomedical imaging. Qdot production has also emerged in a number of industrial applications, such as optoelectronic devices and photovoltaic cells. This widespread development and use of Qdots has outpaced research progress on their potential cytotoxicity, engendering major concerns surrounding occupational, environmental, and diagnostic exposures. Given the extensive physicochemical heterogeneity of Qdots (size, charge, chemical composition, solubility, etc.), high-throughput in vitro cytotoxicity assays represent a feasible means of determining effects of multiple variables and can inform design of lower-throughput in vivo cytotoxicity studies. Here, we describe the application of two commonly used assays, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS), for detection of Qdot-induced cytotoxicity.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Ryan S. McMahan, Terrance J. Kavanagh & David L. Eaton Ph.D.

  2. Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 South Euclid Ave, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA

    Vivian Lee

  3. Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd., A9403, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    William C. Parks

Authors
  1. Ryan S. McMahan
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  2. Vivian Lee
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  3. William C. Parks
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  4. Terrance J. Kavanagh
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  5. David L. Eaton Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David L. Eaton Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group on Biomedical Nanotechnology Biophysics and Radiobiology Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Adriana Fontes

  2. Research Group on Biomedical Nanotechnology Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

    Beate Saegesser Santos

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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McMahan, R.S., Lee, V., Parks, W.C., Kavanagh, T.J., Eaton, D.L. (2014). In Vitro Approaches to Assessing the Toxicity of Quantum Dots. In: Fontes, A., Santos, B. (eds) Quantum Dots: Applications in Biology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1199. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1280-3_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-1279-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-1280-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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