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We report the growth of In0.145Ga0.855As0.132Sb0.868 layers on GaSb(100) substrates by the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique using the ramp-cooling method. We achieved a near-lattice-matched epitaxial growth with a lattice mismatch of Δa/a = -4.1 x 10-4 between the quaternary layer and GaSb(100) substrate due to optimal growth parameters. Aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope (AC-STEM) confirmed the high crystalline quality of the quaternary layer and the low lattice mismatch in the heterostructure, without the presence of linear or planar defects. Also, the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) technique evidenced a uniform distribution of the atomic elements along the quaternary layer and an abrupt interface between the In0.145Ga0.855As0.132Sb0.868 layer and the GaSb substrate. Plasmonphonon interactions were observed by Raman spectroscopy indicating that the crystalline quality increases at greater depth in the sample with respect to the surface. The quaternary layer presented a uniform and flat morphology, and luminescence emission attributed to the recombination of bound exciton states at 641 meV. The structural, chemical, and optical properties of the In0.145Ga0.855As0.132Sb0.868 layer demonstrated that it could be auspicious material for infrared range optoelectronic applications. Likewise, the LPE technique successfully shows that it should be used to grow near-lattice-matched heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of GaxIn1-xAsySb1-y quaternary layers were grown on (100) GaSb substrates using the liquid phase epitaxy technique (LPE). These layers were doped with tellurium and were characterized by Raman, Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (SIMS). Several optical modes were identified by performing Raman spectroscopy characterization at room temperature and observing the effect of the impurity concentration on the Raman mode frequencies. From secondary ion mass spectrometry the concentrations of Te in the liquid solutions and the electron densities present in the layers were obtained. Finally, these last results were compared with those obtained from low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements at low temperatures on this set of samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The safe use in biomedicine of semiconductor nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots (QDs), requires a detailed understanding of the biocompatibility and toxicity of QDs in human beings. The biological characteristics and physicochemical properties of QDs entail new challenges regarding the management of potential adverse health effects following exposure. At certain concentrations, the synthesis of semiconductor nanoparticles of CdS using dextrin as capping agent, at certain concentration, to reduce their toxicity and improves their biocompatibility., Results: This study successfully synthesized and characterized biocompatible dextrin-coated cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-Dx/QDs). The results show that CdS-Dx/QDs are cytotoxic at high concentrations (>2 μg/mL) in HepG2 and HEK293 cells. At low concentrations (<1 μg/mL), CdS-Dx/QDs were not toxic to HepG2 or HeLa cells. CdS-Dx nanoparticles only induced cell death by apoptosis in HEK293 cells at 1 μg/mL concentrations. The in vitro results showed that the cells efficiently took up the CdS-Dx/QDs and this resulted in strong fluorescence. The subcellular localization of CdS-Dx/QDs were usually small and apparently unique in the cytoplasm in HeLa cells but, in the case of HEK293 cells it were more abundant and found in cytoplasm and the nucleus. Animals treated with 100 μg/kg of CdS-Dx/QDs and sacrificed at 3, 7 and 18 h showed a differential distribution in their organs. Intense fluorescence was detected in lung and kidney, with moderate fluorescence detected in liver, spleen and brain. The biocompatibility and toxicity of CdS-Dx/QDs in animals treated daily with 100 μg/kg for 1 week showed the highest level of fluorescence in kidney, liver and brain. Less fluorescence was detected in lung and spleen. There was also evident presence of fluorescence in testis. The histopathological and biochemical analyses showed that CdS-Dx/QDs were non-toxic for rodents., Conclusions: The in vitro and in vivo studies confirmed the effective cellular uptake and even distribution pattern of CdS-Dx/QDs in tissues. CdS-Dx/QDs were biocompatible with tissues from rodents. The CdS-Dx/QDs used in this study can be potentially used in bio-imaging applications.

Background: Semiconductor Quantum dots (QDs) have become quite popular thanks to their properties and wide use in biological and biomedical studies. However, these same properties entail new challenges in understanding, predicting, and managing potential adverse health effects following exposure. Cadmium and selenium, which are the major components of the majority of quantum dots, are known to be acutely and chronically toxic to cells and organisms. Protecting the core of nanoparticles can, to some degree, control the toxicity related to cadmium and selenium leakage., Results: This study successfully synthesized and characterized maltodextrin coated cadmium sulfide semiconductor nanoparticles. The results show that CdS-MD nanoparticles are cytotoxic and embryotoxic. CdS-MD nanoparticles in low concentrations (4.92 and 6.56 nM) lightly increased the number of HepG2 cell. A reduction in MDA-MB-231 cells was observed with concentrations higher than 4.92 nM in a dose response manner, while Caco-2 cells showed an important increase starting at 1.64 nM. CdS-MD nanoparticles induced cell death by apoptosis and necrosis in MDA-MD-231 cells starting at 8.20 nM concentrations in a dose response manner. The exposure of these cells to 11.48-14.76 nM of CdS-MD nanoparticles induced ROS production. The analysis of cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 showed different effects. Low concentrations (1.64 nM) increased cell proliferation (6%) at 7 days (p < 0.05). However, higher concentrations (>4.92 nM) increased cell proliferation in a dose response manner (15-30%) at 7 days. Exposures of chicken embryos to CdS-MD nanoparticles resulted in a dose-dependent increase in anomalies that, starting at 9.84 nM, centered on the heart, central nervous system, placodes, neural tube and somites. No toxic alterations were observed with concentrations of < 3.28 nM, neither in cells nor chicken embryos., Conclusions: Our results indicate that CdS-MD nanoparticles induce cell death and alter cell proliferation in human cell lines at concentrations higher than 4.92 nM. We also demonstrated that they are embryotoxic. However, no toxic effects were observed with doses lower than 3.28 nM in neither cells nor chicken embryos. The CdS-MD nanoparticles used in this study can be potentially used in bio-imaging applications. However, further studies using mammalian species are required in order to discard more toxic effects.