Stability and toxicity of ZnO quantum dots: Interplay between nanoparticles and bacteria

- Dilution of aminosilane-capped ZnO QDs dramatically increases their dissolution.
- Bacteria limit Zn2+ leakage from ZnO QDs in a physiological-dependent process.
- Implementation of biosensors for assessing free metal promotes QDs instability.
- Dialysis combined to ICP allows studying QDs stability without prior dilution.