Silver Sulfide Quantum Dots Conjugated with Anti-PSG1 Monoclonal Antibodies: Optical, Photothermal, and Cytocompatibility Assessment

Abstract

Silver sulfide quantum dots (Ag2S QDs) are promising nanomaterials for biomedical applications due to their near-infrared emission and biocompatibility. In this study, Ag2S QDs were synthesized using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a stabilizing and reducing agent to assess their potential in targeted photothermal therapy. The QDs showed an average size of 1.06 ± 0.38 nm by DLS and 4.42 nm by TEM. Conjugation to an anti-PSG1 monoclonal antibody was performed via EDC/Sulfo-NHS chemistry and confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy, a decrease in zeta potential, and a redshift in emission. The conjugate exhibited an average size of 22.82 ± 9.7 nm and a zeta potential of +85.7 mV, indicating high colloidal stability. Fluorescence studies showed that the conjugate emits at 590 nm when excited at 560 nm, whereas the BSA-Ag2S QDs (non-conjugated) emit at 480 nm upon excitation at 400 nm, reflecting changes in optical properties due to conjugation. Thermal imaging under 808 nm laser irradiation revealed efficient photothermal conversion, with temperature increases up to 13.6 °C at 200 μg/mL and a conversion efficiency of 11.41 ± 0.04%. The conjugate was non-cytotoxic to fibroblasts but induced selective cytotoxicity in HeLa cells after laser exposure, with a selectivity index of 3.0. These findings suggest that Ag2S-BSA QDs conjugated with anti-PSG1 represent promising candidates for further investigation in cancer nanotheranostics.