Uncoated, broad fluorescent, and size-homogeneous CdSe quantum dots for bioanalyses.

In the present study, we describe the synthesis of highly luminescent uncoated water-soluble CdSe quantum dots (QDs) possessing the following characteristics: approximately 2 nm in diameter, with very good size distribution (in 95% homodispersed) accompanied by a broad-band photoluminescent spectrum. The synthetic procedure is simple, is conducted at room temperature, in the absence of the most popular coordinating ligands (as TOPO or HDA), and is highly reproducible. The obtained CdSe core QDs possessed a comparatively long fluorescence half-life (approximately 30-90 ns, depending on the emission wavelength) detected by time-resolved spectroscopy. These QDs were further conjugated with antibodies and applied in several biochemical analyses.