The irradiance of ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a physical parameter that significantly influences biological molecules by affecting their molecular structure. The influence of UV radiation on nanoparticles has not been investigated much. In this work, the ability of cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs) to respond to natural UV radiation was examined. The average size of the yellow QDs was 4 nm, and the sizes of green, red and orange QDs were 2 nm. Quantum yield of green CdTe QDs-MSA (mercaptosuccinic acid)-A, yellow CdTe QDs-MSA-B, orange CdTe QDs-MSA-C and red CdTe QDs-MSA-D were 23.0%, 16.0%, 18.0% and 7.0%, respectively. Green, yellow, orange and red CdTe QDs were replaced every day and exposed to daily UV radiation for 12 h for seven consecutive days in summer with UV index signal integration ranging from 1894 to 2970. The rising dose of UV radiation led to the release of cadmium ions and the change in the size of individual QDs. The shifts were evident in absorption signals (shifts of the absorbance maxima of individual CdTe QDs-MSA were in the range of 6-79 nm), sulfhydryl (SH)-group signals (after UV exposure, the largest changes in the differential signal of the SH groups were observed in the orange, green, and yellow QDs, while in red QDs, there were almost no changes), fluorescence, and electrochemical signals. Yellow, orange and green QDs showed a stronger response to UV radiation than red ones.

• Klíčová slova
• UV radiation, electrochemistry detection, fluorometric detection, quantum dots,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

: In this study, the titanium-gadolinium quantum dots (TGQDs) were novel, first of its type to be synthesized, and fully characterized to date. Multiple physical characterization includes scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning electrochemical microscope (SCEM), x-ray fluorescence, spectrophotometry, and dynamic light scattering were carried out. The obtained results confirmed appropriate size and shape distributions in addition to processing optical features with high quantum yield. The synthesized TGQD was used as a fluorescent dye for bacterial detection and imaging by fluorescent microscopy and spectrophotometry, where TGQD stained only bacterial cells, but not human cells. The significant antibacterial activities of the TGQDs were found against a highly pathogenic bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus) and its antibiotic resistant strains (vancomycin and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) using growth curve analysis and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) analysis. Live/dead cell imaging assay using phase-contrast microscope was performed for further confirmation of the antibacterial activity. Cell wall disruption and release of cell content was observed to be the prime mode of action with the reduction of cellular oxygen demand (OD).

• Klíčová slova
• SECM, antibacterial activity, bacterial detection, bacterial resistance, titanium–gadolinium quantum dots,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The current epidemic of antibiotic-resistant infections urges to develop alternatives to less-effective antibiotics. To assess anti-bacterial potential, a novel coordinate compound (RU-S4) was synthesized using ruthenium-Schiff base-benzimidazole ligand, where ruthenium chloride was used as the central atom. RU-S4 was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. Antibacterial effect of RU-S4 was studied against Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 8511), vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) (CCM 1767), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (ST239: SCCmecIIIA), and hospital isolate Staphylococcus epidermidis. The antibacterial activity of RU-S4 was checked by growth curve analysis and the outcome was supported by optical microscopy imaging and fluorescence LIVE/DEAD cell imaging. In vivo (balb/c mice) infection model prepared with VRSA (CCM 1767) and treated with RU-S4. In our experimental conditions, all infected mice were cured. The interaction of coordination compound with bacterial cells were further confirmed by cryo-scanning electron microscope (Cryo-SEM). RU-S4 was completely non-toxic against mammalian cells and in mice and subsequently treated with synthesized RU-S4.

• Klíčová slova
• EDS, SEM, antimicrobial compound, benzimidazole, coordination compound, ruthenium,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• Bacteria účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• komplexní sloučeniny chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• myši MeSH
• Ramanova spektroskopie MeSH
• ruthenium chemie   MeSH
• viabilita buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• komplexní sloučeniny MeSH
• ruthenium MeSH

The physical and chemical synthesis methods of quantum dots (QDs) are generally unfavorable for biological applications. To overcome this limitation, the development of a novel "green" route to produce highly-fluorescent CdSe QDs constitutes a promising substitute approach. In the present work, CdSe QDs were biosynthesized in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a novel method, where we showed for the first time that the concentration of tryptone highly affects the synthesis process. The optimum concentration of tryptone was found to be 25 g/L for the highest yield. Different methods were used to optimize the QD extraction from yeast, and the best method was found to be by denaturation at 80 °C along with an ultrasound needle. Multiple physical characterizations including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and spectrophotometry confirmed the optical features size and shape distribution of the QDs. We showed that the novel conjugate of the CdSe QDs and a cell-penetrating peptide (hecate) can detect bacterial cells very efficiently under a fluorescent microscope. The conjugate also showed strong antibacterial activity against vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Escherichia coli, which may help us to cope with the problem of rising antibiotic resistance.

• Klíčová slova
• QDs, antibacterial, biosynthesis, cell-penetrating peptide, tryptone,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: Suitable fluorophores are the core of fluorescence imaging. Among the most exciting, yet controversial, labels are quantum dots (QDs) with their unique optical and chemical properties, but also considerable toxicity. This hinders QDs applicability in living systems. Surface chemistry has a profound impact on biological behavior of QDs. This study describes a two-step synthesis of QDs formed by CdTe core doped with Schiff base ligand for lanthanides [Ln (Yb3+, Tb3+ and Gd3+)] as novel cytocompatible fluorophores. RESULTS: Microwave-assisted synthesis resulted in water-soluble nanocrystals with high colloidal and fluorescence stability with quantum yields of 40.9-58.0%. Despite induction of endocytosis and cytoplasm accumulation of Yb- and TbQDs, surface doping resulted in significant enhancement in cytocompatibility when compared to the un-doped CdTe QDs. Furthermore, only negligible antimigratory properties without triggering formation of reactive oxygen species were found, particularly for TbQDs. Ln-doped QDs did not cause observable hemolysis, adsorbed only a low degree of plasma proteins onto their surface and did not possess significant genotoxicity. To validate the applicability of Ln-doped QDs for in vitro visualization of receptor status of living cells, we performed a site-directed conjugation of antibodies towards immuno-labeling of clinically relevant target-human norepinephrine transporter (hNET), over-expressed in neuroendocrine tumors like neuroblastoma. Immuno-performance of modified TbQDs was successfully tested in distinct types of cells varying in hNET expression and also in neuroblastoma cells with hNET expression up-regulated by vorinostat. CONCLUSION: For the first time we show that Ln-doping of CdTe QDs can significantly alleviate their cytotoxic effects. The obtained results imply great potential of Ln-doped QDs as cytocompatible and stable fluorophores for various bio-labeling applications.

• Klíčová slova
• Cellular labeling, Cytotoxicity, Inorganic fluorophore, Nanocrystal, Surface dopant,
• MeSH
• analýza jednotlivých buněk metody   MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva toxicita   MeSH
• kvantové tečky toxicita   MeSH
• lanthanoidy chemie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikrovlny MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• optické zobrazování metody   MeSH
• povrchové vlastnosti MeSH
• Schiffovy báze chemie   MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia toxicita   MeSH
• telur toxicita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cadmium telluride MeSH Prohlížeč
• fluorescenční barviva MeSH
• lanthanoidy MeSH
• Schiffovy báze MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia MeSH
• telur MeSH

CdTe/ZnSe core/shell quantum dot (QD), one of the strongest and most highly luminescent nanoparticles, was directly synthesized in an aqueous medium to study its individual interactions with important nucleobases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine) in detail. The results obtained from the optical analyses indicated that the interactions of the QDs with different nucleobases were different, which reflected in different fluorescent emission maxima and intensities. The difference in the interaction was found due to the different chemical behavior and different sizes of the formed nanoconjugates. An electrochemical study also confirmed that the purines and pyrimidines show different interactions with the core/shell QDs. Based on these phenomena, a novel QD-based method is developed to detect the presence of the DNA, damage to DNA, and mutation. The QDs were successfully applied very easily to detect any change in the sequence (mutation) of DNA. The QDs also showed their ability to detect DNAs directly from the extracts of human cancer (PC3) and normal (PNT1A) cells (detection limit of 500 pM of DNA), which indicates the possibilities to use this easy assay technique to confirm the presence of living organisms in extreme environments.

• Klíčová slova
• biosensor, fluorescence, mutation, nanoparticles, nucleobases,
• MeSH
• DNA analýza   MeSH
• dynamický rozptyl světla MeSH
• elektrochemické techniky MeSH
• kvantové tečky chemie   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• poškození DNA * MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia chemie   MeSH
• sloučeniny selenu chemie   MeSH
• sloučeniny zinku chemie   MeSH
• spektroskopie infračervená s Fourierovou transformací MeSH
• statická elektřina MeSH
• telur chemie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cadmium telluride MeSH Prohlížeč
• DNA MeSH
• sloučeniny kadmia MeSH
• sloučeniny selenu MeSH
• sloučeniny zinku MeSH
• telur MeSH
• zinc selenide MeSH Prohlížeč