Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) would have a wide range of biological applications due to their strong photostability and multiple emission wavelengths under a single excitation. However, the majority of traditional QDs are heavy metal-based (CdSe, CdTe). The toxicity of these heavy metals limits QDs’ applications in biological fields. To solve this problem, silicon as a nontoxic element has been used to generate QDs (SiQDs). However, the SiQDs are very unstable and are susceptible to aggregation, which would significantly reduce the quantum yield of SiQDs. In order to improve the stability and fluorescence quantum yield of SiQDs, using highly florescent pi-conjugated polymer dots (Pdots) we constructed a Pdot@SiQDs nanocomposite. In the nanocomposite, the Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) occurred where the Pdots was used as an energy donor to excite SiQDs to emit strong fluorescence. Two polymers were used, poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) as a light-emitting polymer, and poly (styrene-co-maleic anhydride) (PSMA) was used as an amphiphilic polymer linked to the amine functional group terminated SiQDs. Through the coprecipitation method, the Pdot@SiQDs nanocomposite was generated. As a result, the SiQDs doped onto Pdots were protected from the aggregation. The stable and strong fluorescent hybrid was developed for bioimaging and biosensing.

Development of polymer dot @ silicon quantum dots nanocomposite for fluorescence imaging

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.