CDTE quantum dots–albumin bionanocomplex: genotoxic potential and bioimaging application in a Drosophila melanogaster model
Abstract
Background: Research on semiconductor nanocrystals, known as quantum dots (QDs), and their applications in biomedical research, bioimaging, and diagnostics is evolving rapidly. Although CdTe QDs exhibit remarkable optical properties, their practical application is limited by their toxicity. As a result, research is ongoing to reduce the toxicity of QDs by coating them with inert shells or by forming complexes with biomolecules.
Objectives: Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of the bionanocomplex of CdTe QDs with human serum albumin (HSA) as a safe and promising tool for fluorescence bioimaging in vivo, using D. melanogaster as a model.
Materials and Methods: CdTe QDs were obtained by chemical colloidal method in the aqueous phase and conjugated with HSA to create CdTe QDs-HSA bionanocomplex. The toxicity and genotoxicity of the QDs were evaluated in relevant tests on the D. melanogaster Oregon R strain. To visualize of QDs a fluorescence microscopy was applied. The data were subjected to statistical analysis, with differences deemed significant at p<0.05.
Results and Discussions: It was established that bionanocomplexes, similar to CdTe QDs, penetrated the germline cells, and were transferred to the eggs and larvae, as confirmed by histological preparations. In the muscles of the imago, rare CdTe QDs and their HSA conjugates were detected. The tested QDs types did not cause toxicity in adults after a 3-day exposure period, nor did they decrease their reproductive capacity or cause a genotoxic effect in the DLM test at the embryonic stage. Upon larval feeding, both types of QDs exhibited a teratogenic effect. Unlike CdTe QDs, the bionanocomplex induced phenotypic anomalies in imagos at a significantly lower frequency (2.3 times) and did not cause a reduction in their eclosion compared to the control group (p>0.05).
Conclusion: It was demonstrated that neither HSA-CdTe QDs nor CdTe QDs exhibit genotoxic effects at the embryonic stage. In contrast to CdTe QDs, the bionanocomplex does not cause reproductive toxicity, has significantly lower teratogenic effect, and a toxic impact on the post-embryonic developmental stages. These advantages suggest that HSA-CdTe QDs can be regarded as a relatively safe and promising tool for fluorescence bioimaging in vitro and in vivo applications in model organisms. However, their use in vivo in humans is not recommended.
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