Photostable fluorescent Near-infrared colloidal Mn-doped CuInSe/ZnS quantum dots for cancer-bacteria dual imaging

Near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) with tunable fluorescence emission are promising materials for bioimaging applications. However, they face several challenges, including low photostability, reduced brightness, and poor fluorescence emission. Herein, we report the synthesis of NIR emitting colloidal Mn-doped CuInSe/ZnS QDs synthesised via the hydrothermal method in a commercial pressure cooker. These fluorescent materials had a peak corresponding to photoluminescence maxima at 765 nm and had good photostability. The in vitro analysis showed that the as-synthesised QDs displayed good cell viability against mouse colon carcinoma (C26) cells. They selectively screened Gram-positive bacteria from Gram-negative bacteria and effectively targeted prostate cancer cells compared to normal cells. Thus, they can be used for cancer-bacteria dual-imaging in the biomedical field.