Feasibility of Silicon Quantum Dots as a Biomarker for the Bioimaging of Tear Film
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nanomaterials
Abstract
This study investigated the fluorescence and biocompatibility of hydrophilic silicon quantum
dots (SiQDs) that are doped with scandium (Sc-SiQDs), copper (Cu-SiQDs), and zinc (Zn-SiQDs),
indicating their feasibility for the bioimaging of tear film. SiQDs were investigated for fluorescence
emission by the in vitro imaging of artificial tears (TheraTears®), using an optical imaging system. A
trypan blue exclusion test and MTT assay were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of SiQDs to cultured
human corneal epithelial cells. No difference was observed between the fluorescence emission of
Sc-SiQDs and Cu-SiQDs at any concentration. On average, SiQDs showed stable fluorescence, while
Sc-SiQDs and Cu-SiQDs showed brighter fluorescence emissions than Zn-SiQDs. Cu-SiQDs and
Sc-SiQDs showed a broader safe concentration range than Zn-SiQDs. Cu-SiQDs and Zn-SiQDs tend
to aggregate more substantially in TheraTears® than Sc-SiQDs. This study elucidates the feasibility of
hydrophilic Sc-SiQDs in studying the tear film’s aqueous layer.
Description
Keywords
Dry eye disease, Tear film, Quantum dots, Fluorescence imaging, Artificial tears
Citation
Sarwat, S.; Stapleton, F.J.; Willcox, M.D.P.; O’Mara, P.B.; Tilley, R.D.; Gooding, J.J.; Roy, M. Feasibility of Silicon Quantum Dots as a Biomarker for the Bioimaging of Tear Film. Nanomaterials 2022, 12, 1965. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nano12121965