Doctor Scientiae - DSc / Semiconductor nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) are fluorescent nanometer-sized particles
which have physical dimensions that are smaller than the excitonic Bohr radius, large surface
area-to-volume ratios, broad absorption spectra and very large molar extinction coefficients.
Biomedical applications of QDs are mainly based on II-VI QDs containing cadmium, such as
CdSe/ZnS. These cadmium-based systems are associated with high toxicity due to cadmium. As
a result, potential replacements of cadmium-based QDs in biological applications are needed. In
this study, InP/ZnSe QDs were synthesized for the first time using a one-pot hot injection
method. Furthermore, a growth-doping method was used for silver, cobalt and iron incorporation
into the InP core. Water compatibility was achieved through ligand exchange with 3-
mercaptopropionic acid. In vitro cytotoxicity and imaging/internalization of the as-prepared
MP A-InP/ZnSe and MP A-capped CdTe/ZnS QDs were evaluated. InP/ZnSe QDs were
successfully synthesized with ZnSe shell causing a 1.4 times reduction in trap-related emission.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uwc/oai:etd.uwc.ac.za:11394/8271 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Mushonga, Paul |
| Contributors | Onani, Martin, Madiehe, Abraham |
| Publisher | University of the Western Cape |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | University of the Western Cape |
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