The synthesis of highly water-dispersible and targeted CdS quantum dots and it is used for bioimaging by confocal microscopy

Synthesis of a highly dispersed hydrophilic CdS nanocrystals and their use as fluorescence labeling for live cell imaging is reported here. By carefully manipulating the surface of CdS nanocrystals, the dispersions of CdS–MAA–PEI–FA nanocrystals with high photostability is prepared. The receptor-mediated delivery of folic acid conjugated quantum dots into folate-receptor-positive cell lines such as CBRH7919 liver cancer cells was demonstrated by confocal microscopy. In the future, the further modified CdS nanoparticles can be used for the tissue imaging in vivo studies.

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► In our study, the CdS QDs (CdS–MAA–PEI–FA) prepared has highly photostable, very excellent water-dispersible and effective targeted delivery ability to cell.
► The rapid bioimaging of CdS was verified by confocal microscopy, and the imaging effect is very well.
► This provides us a new choice for the bioimaging and fluorescence labeling.