Multi-emissive biocompatible silicon quantum dots: Synthesis, characterization, intracellular imaging and improvement of two fold drug efficacy

Multi-emissive silicon quantum dots (SQDs) is one of the most promising advanced materials in biomedical research today. The SQDs having designed chemical structure suitable for specific drug conjugation has been synthesized by modified hydrothermal method for the first time. The unique optical property along with the desirable size (close to the exciton Bohr radius), biocompatibility, water-solubility, photo-stability, salt tolerance and free from auto fluorescence validate the developed material toward the unique intracellular imaging. The SQDs mediated green fluorescence image of the living cells is superior to the commercially available 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) dye. The widely used trig drug is productively tagged with the SQDs (to obtain TSQDs) through EDC coupling for cellular tracking, delivery and improvement of drug efficacy. An attempt has been made to search the biochemistry behind the improvement of two fold drug efficacy through development of drug delivery system. The present findings of TSQDs drug efficacy may be applied in biomedical field in future.

Automated summary

Multi-emissive silicon quantum dots (SQDs) are a promising advanced material in biomedical research, with unique optical properties and ideal size for cellular imaging. SQDs can be used for cell imaging, drug tagging, enhancing drug efficacy, and exploring the biochemistry of drug delivery systems.