Thanks to their superior physico-chemical and optoelectronic properties, colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, such as Quantum Dots (QDs) and Quantum Rods (QRs) have become unique investigation tools to probe biological events. We used both QDs and QRs, differently coated and surface functionalized, and investigated in vivo, the mechanisms of interaction between NP and living organisms. We found in some case the elicitation of specific behaviours relying on neural activation, possibly dependent on the NP shape, while in other cases charge depend effects were found responsible for the NP uptake. These studies, performed at whole animal, tissue-, cellular- and sub-cellular levels, indicate the active role played by NP in the interaction with biological systems, highlighting the need of in vivo studies for a comprehensive evaluation of NP impact on living systems.

 

Tracking Embryogenesis of Nematostella vectensis

Tracking cell dynamics of Hydra vulgaris...

In vivo imaging of polyps incubated with different nanocrystals, which interaction with Hydra in terms of biocompatibility and toxicology has been investigted.

The possibility offered by Nematostella for developmental biology studies allow us to address the toxicological impact of nanoparticles during embryogenesis and metamorphosis.

...and Nematostella vectensis

Nematostella polyp labelled with red emitting CdSe/CdS quantum rods

Fluorescent nanocrystals for biological imaging

Go to: NANOMEDICINE

Relevant Publications

  1. 1.Tortiglione C, Quarta A, Malvindi MA, Tino A, Pellegrino T. (2009). Fluorescent nanocrystals reveal regulated portals of entry into and between the cells of Hydra. PLoS One 4, e7698. http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0007698


  1. 2.Quarta A, Ragusa A, Deka S, Tortiglione C, Tino A, Cingolani R, and Pellegrino T. (2009). Bioconjugation of rod-shaped fluorescent nanocrystals for efficient targeted cell labeling. Langmuir 25, 12614-12622. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/la901831y


  1. 3.Malvindi MA, Carbone L, Quarta A, Tino A, Manna L, Pellegrino T and Tortiglione C (2008). Rod-shaped nanocrystals elicit neuronal activity in vivo. Small  4, 1747-1755. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/smll.200800413/abstract


  1. 4.Tortiglione C, Quarta A, Tino A, Manna L, Cingolani R and Pellegrino T. (2007). Synthesis and biological assay of GSH functionalized fluorescent quantum dots for staining Hydra vulgaris. Bioconjugate chemistry 18, 829-835. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bc060355t

Collaborations

Teresa Pellegrino, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy