curcumin and cadmium-sulfide

The aim of this study was to develop the ranostic nanocomposite by conjugating quantum dots with functional, therapeutic and targeting moieties. The quantum dots nanoparticles were used to diagnose and deliver anti-tumor drugs in a controlled manner to cancerous cells by fusing with tumor cell surfaces. To enhance the attachment of the nano-composite to specific tumor cells without harming neighboring normal cells, folic acid was conjugated with the nano-composite as folate receptors are over expressed in different kinds of tumors. The study was conducted for one year at the University of Punjab. The quantum dots were synthesized by a hydrothermal process using cadmium acetate and sodium sulfide. The response was evaluated on breast tumor samples for binding and nano-composite delivery under a fluorescent microscope. Fourier-transform infrared analysis was performed to confirm CdS conjugation with cysteine, folic acid and curcumin. The results showed that the quantum dot conjugate provides a two-way attack on cancer cells and causes increased cellular apoptosis. Further testing on murine animal models is required to confirm the results of this research study.

Topics: Animals; Curcumin; Folic Acid; Mice; Neoplasms; Quantum Dots

A new strategy for the highly sensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection of insulin was developed based on curcumin-conjugated Au nanoparticles wrapped in zeolitic Zn2+-imidazolate cross-linked framework nanoparticles (Au-Cur/ZIF-8) quenching the ECL of CdS-decorated TiO2 nanobelts (CdS@TiO2). Curcumin-conjugated Au nanoparticles were embedded in ZIF-8 through epitaxial growth or nucleus coalescence. Herein, dual coreactants H2O2 and K2S2O8 were employed to enhance the ECL emission of CdS@TiO2, and the enhancing mechanism may be due to the electrogenerated hydroxyl radical (OH˙) strengthening the amount of sulfate radical anion (SO4˙-), which was the main species of generating ECL signals. In order to sensitively detect insulin, Au-Cur/ZIF-8 labels were used to anchor secondary antibodies via amidation reaction and inhibit the ECL intensity of CdS@TiO2. Moreover, the possible mechanism of quenching between Au-Cur/ZIF-8 and CdS@TiO2 was ascribed to the poor conductivity of ZIF-8, the consumption of OH˙ and the ECL resonance energy transfer between CdS@TiO2 and Au-Cur. Under optimal conditions, a sandwich immunosensor was prepared to determine insulin with a good linear range from 0.3 pg mL-1 to 20 ng mL-1 and a low detection limit of 0.09 pg mL-1 (S/N = 3).

Topics: Biosensing Techniques; Cadmium Compounds; Coloring Agents; Curcumin; Electrochemical Techniques; Gold; Humans; Imidazoles; Insulin; Metal Nanoparticles; Sulfides