Emission tunable, cyto/hemocompatible, near-IR-emitting Ag 2 S quantum dots by aqueous decomposition of DMSA

Size tunable aqueous Ag2S quantum dots emitting in the near-infrared region were synthesized through decomposition of meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) in water. The resulting NIR QDs are highly cyto- and hemocompatible, have quantum yields as high as 6.5% and are effective optical imaging agents based on in vitro evaluation