One-pot preparation of highly fluorescent cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide quantum dots under neutral-pH condition for biological applications

► One-pot preparation of MSA-capped CdTe/CdS QDs at neutral pH (6-7). ► High fluorescence quantum yield (84%) of MSA-capped QDs. ► High structural and chemical stability in pH 6-9 solution. ► Great potential of MSA-capped CdTe/CdS QDs for live cell imaging.