The therapeutic efficacy of CdTe and CdSe quantum dots for photothermal cancer therapy.

Abstract

Fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) used for biomedical imaging and diagnostics have attracted considerable attention over the past decade. Here, we report our finding regarding the therapeutic efficacy of the popularly used red/brown, brown or close to black CdTe and CdSe QDs. Upon 671-nm laser irradiation, these QDs can rapidly convert light energy into heat, both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, the growth of mouse melanoma tumors injected with CdTe(710) QDs coated with a silica shell (SiO(2)) was significantly inhibited after laser irradiation, with eventual disappearance of the tumor. In contrast, tumors injected with the silica-coated QDs without subsequent irradiation continued to grow over time. They had a growth rate close to that of tumors injected with SiO(2) or phosphate-buffered saline, with or without laser irradiation. In conclusion, our data suggest that the popularly used CdTe and CdSe QDs have great potential in the treatment of cancer using photothermal therapy.

• Authors: Maoquan Chu, Xiaojing Pan, Ding Zhang, Qiang Wu, Jinliang Peng, Wangxi Hai
• Journal: Biomaterials (Biomaterials) Vol. 33 Issue 29 Pg. 7071-83 (Oct 2012) ISSN: 1878-5905 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22818982 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cadmium Compounds
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Selenium Compounds
• cadmium selenide
• Tellurium
• cadmium telluride

Topics

• Animals
• Cadmium Compounds (chemistry)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Humans
• Lasers
• Light
• Liver (pathology)
• Melanoma (therapy)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Optics and Photonics
• Photochemistry (methods)
• Quantum Dots
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Selenium Compounds (chemistry)
• Skin Neoplasms (therapy)
• Tellurium (chemistry)
• Temperature
• Time Factors