Development of Bismuth Selenide Quantum Dots and Core-Shell Structures via Microfluidic Synthesis for Applications in Tumor Radiosensitization and Combined Cancer Therapies

• Grant number: 25/15129-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2026
• End date: March 31, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Radiology and Photobiology
• Principal Investigator: Éder José Guidelli
• Grantee: Mileni Mayumi Oliveira Isikawa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/21657-2 - From Oxygen to X-Rays: Different Nanotechnology Approaches for Cancer Treatment, AP.R

Abstract

This project aims to develop bismuth selenide (Bi¿Se¿) quantum dots (QDs) as radiosensitizing nanoplatforms for applications in radiation-based cancer therapies. Due to the high atomic number of bismuth, these nanomaterials exhibit strong interactions with ionizing radiation, enhancing the production of secondary electrons and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are critical for potentiating radiotherapeutic effects. The QDs will be synthesized using tubular microfluidic reactors, enabling precise control over nucleation and growth processes. Thereafter, the formation of core-shell structures will optimize their structural and functional properties. Initially, the scintillation potential of Bi¿Se¿ QDs under X-ray excitation will be investigated using advanced optical characterization techniques. The most promising formulations will then be selected for detailed structural and physicochemical analysis by TEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, DLS, UV-Vis, photoluminescence, and scintillation spectroscopy. In vitro biological assays will be conducted on tumor cell lines to evaluate the radiosensitizing effects of Bi¿Se¿ QDs, focusing on cell viability, ROS generation, and response to ionizing radiation. The expected outcomes include the identification of Bi¿Se¿-based nanostructures with significant scintillation efficiency and high ROS yield under irradiation, along with demonstrated radiosensitizing effects in vitro. These results will provide a scientific foundation for the rational design of nanomaterials with improved therapeutic performance and may open new perspectives for their integration into combined oncological treatment strategies. (AU)