Synthesis and Characterization of Gd-doped InP/ZnS Quantum Dots for Use in Multimodal Imaging Probes

Download or read book Synthesis and Characterization of Gd-doped InP/ZnS Quantum Dots for Use in Multimodal Imaging Probes written by Molly Erin Duszynski and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 82 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Quantum dots (QDs), which are intensely fluorescent nanocrystals ranging 2-10 nanometers in diameter, have shown promise in fluorescence imaging. However, in vivo applications of QDs are limited due to the opaque surrounding of tissue and bones. In this study, InP/ZnS QDs were doped with a paramagnetic atom in an attempt to render them MRI-active. We have further bioconjugated these nanoprobes to develop highly specific MRI-active probes that can be used for detection of neurodegenerative diseases. These bioconjugated nanoprobes detect a mutated form of alpha-synuclein that forms oligomers that are a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease and other alpha-synucleinopathies. Here, we have optimized the doping of QDs with MRI-active metals (e.g. Gadolinium) and characterized the MRI activity. The resulting nanocrystals were further studied to assess the success of the paramagnetic atom’s incorporation into the crystal lattice and its performance as a probe for alpha-synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease.